Background and objective: Implantation of cell-sheets into damaged regions of the heart after myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to improve heart function. However, the tissue morphology following application of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) has not been studied in detail at the level afforded by electron microscopy. We hypothesized that increasing the number of CM derived from iPSC would increase the effectiveness of cell-sheets used to treat ischemic cardiomyopathy. We report here on the ultrastructural features after application of a bio-membrane 'cell patch'.
Methods: iPSC-derived progenitor cells were transduced using lentivirus vectors with or without NCX1 promoter. iPSC-CM sheets were transplanted over the transmural MI region in a mouse model of regional ischemic cardiomyopathy. Mice were divided into four groups, 1) Sham; 2) MI; 3) MI + iPSC without NCX1 treated cells (MI + iPSCNull) and 4) MI + iPSC receiving NCX1 promoter treated cells (MI + iPSCNCX1). Echocardiography was performed 4 weeks after cell patch application, followed by histological and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis.
Results: Large numbers of transplanted CM were observed with significant improvements in left ventricular performance and remodeling in group 4 as compared with group 3. No teratoma formation was detected in any of the treatment groups.
Conclusion: Manipulation of iPSC yields large numbers of iPSC-CM and favorable morphological and ultrastructural tissue changes. These changes have the potential to enhance current methods used for restoration of cardiac function after MI.