Adult cardiac stem cells are multipotent and support myocardial regeneration

Cell. 2003 Sep 19;114(6):763-76. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00687-1.

Abstract

The notion of the adult heart as terminally differentiated organ without self-renewal potential has been undermined by the existence of a subpopulation of replicating myocytes in normal and pathological states. The origin and significance of these cells has remained obscure for lack of a proper biological context. We report the existence of Lin(-) c-kit(POS) cells with the properties of cardiac stem cells. They are self-renewing, clonogenic, and multipotent, giving rise to myocytes, smooth muscle, and endothelial cells. When injected into an ischemic heart, these cells or their clonal progeny reconstitute well-differentiated myocardium, formed by blood-carrying new vessels and myocytes with the characteristics of young cells, encompassing approximately 70% of the ventricle. Thus, the adult heart, like the brain, is mainly composed of terminally differentiated cells, but is not a terminally differentiated organ because it contains stem cells supporting its regeneration. The existence of these cells opens new opportunities for myocardial repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Vessels / cytology
  • Blood Vessels / growth & development
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Lineage / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clone Cells / cytology
  • Clone Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Female
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Myocardium / cytology*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / cytology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Regeneration / physiology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit