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Intrapericardial Administration of Human Pericardial Fluid Cells Improves Cardiac Functions in Rats with Heart
Yaping Xu1,2, Xiangli Zhang3, Zhikun Fu3
1Henan Key Laboratory of Cardiac Remodeling and Transplantation, Zhengzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Stem Cells and Development
|August 19, 2024
Summary
Human pericardial fluid-derived cells (hPFCs) show stem cell properties and improve heart function in rats with heart failure. Pericardial administration of hPFCs reduced fibrosis and inflammation, promoting cardiac repair.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) remains a leading global cause of mortality.
- Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common chemotherapeutic agent that can induce cardiotoxicity and HF.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to regenerate damaged heart tissue and improve cardiac function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of human pericardial fluid-derived cells (hPFCs).
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of hPFCs in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced heart failure.
- To assess the effects of intrapericardial hPFC administration on cardiac function, fibrosis, inflammation, and angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- hPFCs were isolated from heart transplant donors and characterized for stem cell markers (SCA-1, NANOG, CD90, CD105, CD73) and differentiation potential.
- hPFCs were administered intrapericardially to DOX-induced HF rats.
- Cardiac function was assessed, and histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses were performed after 4 weeks.
Main Results:
- hPFCs exhibited stem cell characteristics and in vitro differentiation capacity.
- Intrapericardial hPFC injection significantly improved cardiac function in DOX-treated rats.
- hPFC treatment led to reduced cardiac fibrosis, decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), and increased VEGFA expression.
- Engrafted hPFCs expressed cardiac markers (cardiac troponin T, connexin 43) in the host myocardium.
Conclusions:
- hPFCs possess stem cell properties and demonstrate therapeutic efficacy in a preclinical model of heart failure.
- Pericardial administration of hPFCs promotes cardiac repair by reducing fibrosis and inflammation and enhancing angiogenesis.
- hPFCs may represent a promising cell source for regenerative therapies in heart failure.
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