OSU Researchers Testing Adult Stem Cells for Cardiac Transplants and Other Treatments

Researchers at OSU’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, in collaboration with Arteriocyte, a biotechnology company out of Case Western Reserve University, have begun testing the feasibility of using adult stem cells, pretreated with an anti-angina drug, to enhance the effectiveness of heart transplants and other cardiac treatments. 

Researchers found that pre-treating adult stem cells with the drug trimetazidine (TMZ), may allow them to better adapt to their transplantation site by eliminating or slowing tissue deterioration which leads to heart failure. 

“Transplanted stem cells can repair many types of damaged tissue, including heart tissue,” says Dr. Periannan Kuppusamy, associate director of OSU’s Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute.  “However, most of the stem cells transplanted to the heart die within a few days due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.” 

In initial studies, the adult stem cells from the bone marrow of rats were pretreated with TMZ then grown under low oxygen conditions to mimic the transplant site.  These pre-treated stem cells provided a substantially better therapeutic effect in restoring heart function. 

“The biggest challenge is that heart muscle doesn’t typically regenerate,” say Dr. Vincent Pompili, OSU’S director of cardiovascular cell-based therapies.  “These studies are allowing us to study individual disease processes and identify ways to accelerate the body’s healing mechanisms.” 

To learn more see the release from OSU.

Or join Dr. Pompili for a special TechColumbus Leadership Luncheon September 18, 2009.  For details and to register, click here