Lin-c-kit+ BM-derived stem cells repair Infarcted Heart

Myocardial infarction is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Bone marrow contains different types of stem cells capable of differentiating into cardiomyocytes. Therefore, we hypothesized that bone marrow contains a lin-c-kit+ progenitor cell pool with the ability to home to the infarcted region and improve the cardiac function. BM-derived stem cells (BMSCs) from Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenic mice C57BL/6 (n = 6) were isolated by c-kit labeled Microbeads. Lin-c-kit+ BMSCs co-cultured with rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were able to express cardiac marker and form intercellular connections with rat myocytes. Myocardial infarction was produced in the experimental animals C57BL/6 Wild type (n = 10) by permanent ligation of the Left anterior descending (LAD) artery. BMSCs enriched for c-kit were transplanted in the border zone area of the infarction. Cardiac function analyzed by Millar's Apparatus after 4 weeks of transplantation showed improvement. BMSCs were able to form intercellular connections and new blood vessel formation as determined by Connexin 43 and CD31 respectively. Lin-c-kit(+) BMSCs were able to align with the host myocardium, participate in angiogenesis and thus improve the cardiac function.