Cell transplantation to prevent heart failure: a comparison of cell types

Background Autologous cell transplantation may restore viable muscle after a myocardial infarction. We compared the effect of three cell types or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on preservation of ventricular function after cardiac injury. Methods A uniform transmural myocardial scar was created in adult rats by cryoinjury. Three weeks later the rats were randomly assigned to one of four blinded treatments: transplantation with 5 × 106 aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC, n = 12), ventricular heart cells (VHC, n = 13), skeletal muscle cells (SKC, n = 13) or culture medium alone (control, n = 11). The ACE inhibitor group (n = 8) received enalapril (1.0 mg/kg per day), also beginning 3 weeks after cryoinjury. Five and 12 weeks after transplantation, left ventricle (LV) function was assessed in a Langendorff apparatus, and histologic and immunohistological evaluation of the LV scars was performed. Results At 5 weeks, greater scar elastin content and better LV function was noted with cell transplantation or ACE inhibitor therapy compared with control rats (p< 0.05). Twelve weeks after transplantation, cell-transplanted rats still had greater elastin content and better LV function than control rats, although elastin content and LV function had declined in ACE inhibitor-treated animals to levels below those observed in control rats (p< 0.05). Conclusions Transplantation of SMC, VHC, and SKC preserved ventricular function equivalent to the effects of an ACE inhibitor. Muscle cell transplantation, but not ACE inhibitor therapy, continues to be effective later after cryoinjury. No differences were detected between the muscle cells.