Therapeutic Potential of Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in Heart Attack Patients

Umbilical cord derived stem (UCDS) cells may assist cardiac (heart) function recovery after a heart attack, a new study reports.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China explained that cell transplantation offers promise in the restoration of cardiac function after myocardial infarction (heart attack). Researchers investigated the therapeutic potential of human UCDS cells in a rat myocardial infarction model.

In the study, rats with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 60 percent two weeks after induction of myocardial infarction were randomly divided into a phosphate-buffered saline control group and a UCDS cell treated group. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography two weeks and four weeks after cell transplantation.

Researchers performed histologic (examining cells and tissues at the microscopic level) study and immunofluorescence (a technique that uses antibodies linked to a fluorescent dye in order to study antigens in a sample of tissue) to investigate differentiation of transplanted cells, capillary and arteriole density, secretion of cytokines (proteins produced by white blood cells that act as chemical messengers between cells) and cardiomyocytes apoptosis (heart cell death).

The study found a statistically significant improvement of cardiac function in the experimental group of rats compared with the control group. Four weeks after transplantation, histologic examination revealed that some of the transplanted UCDS cells survived in the infarcted myocardium and accumulated around arterioles and scattered in capillary networks. Scientists observed some of the cells expressed cardiac troponin-T, von Willebrand factor and smooth muscle actin, indicating regeneration of damaged myocardium by cardiomyocytic, endothelial and smooth muscle differentiation of UCDS cells in the infarcted myocardium.

The capillary and arteriole density were also markedly increased in the UCDS-cell-treated group. In addition, the apoptotic (dead) cells were decreased significantly compared with the phosphate-buffered saline controls.

Researchers concluded that transplanted UCDS cells may provide benefit in cardiac function recovery after acute myocardial infarction in rats, suggesting UCDS cells represent a promising cell source for future routine cell therapy applications.

Integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence in the prevention and/or treatment of heart attacks include beta-glucan, beta-sitosterol, calcium, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid, policosanol, psyllium, red yeast rice, soy, avocado, barley, betaine anhydrous, carob, coleus, cordyceps, gamma oryzanol, garlic, globe artichoke, L-carnitine, pantethine, sweet almond, yoga and zinc.

For more information on these and other therapies studied in the prevention and treatment of heart attacks, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database. For more information on the individual therapies listed above, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database or Health & Wellness database.

Comments

[Rachelle Provost]

I think this is one of many new uses researchers are going to find for umbilical cord stem cells, and I don't know why they didn't think of this sooner instead of using embryonic stem cells. To me, it would seem more obvious, less costly and much easier to use umbilical cord stem cells when you consider the number of babies being born on a regular basis and thus the number of UCS cells available. It's an excellent way to simultaneously respect life and give life without raising any ethical questions. It's a tragedy that we've been literally throwing away UCS cells for so long, but we can learn from this, and I hope that researchers take advantage of this new opportunity in science.

[Leah Cohen]

Interesting article on UCDS. There certainly are a wide variety of therapies currently being studied for heart attack patients. As far as other integrative therapies - policosanol, red yeast rice, omega 3 fatty acids (fish oils) and beta-glucan seem to have the most evidence, specifically relating to lipid/cholesterol levels.

[Woods]

I also agree with Rachelle. We have faced many stumbling blocks when it comes to funding stem cell research, largely because it is viewed as unethical. Some people believe that embryonic stem cell research involves killing one life to save another, while others believe an embryo is not technically alive.

However, umbilical cord stem cells do not raise the same moral concerns. In fact, the Catholic Church, one of the biggest opponents of embryonic stem cell research, actually supports umbilical stem cell research. I was surprised to hear this when I attended a Catholic healthcare conference in Boston last year. They consider this type of research ethical because, as Rachelle noted, "it's a way to simultaneously respect life and give life."

[Cultural relativism]

I don't understand how stem cells would help heart tissue that has died.

At any rate, umbilical cord stem cells can only become hematopoietic cells, whereas fetal stem cells have the potential to turn into may types. Because research with stem cells is so expensive, funding is probably directed at fetal stem cells because there is a broader range of therapies that may arise from them.

[D. Meyer]

Cultural relativism raises an interesting question... how is it that umbilical stem cells differentiate themselves into cardiac cells?

In any event, successful cell transplantation to restore healthy myocardium in damaged hearts is an area of great promise that would help thousands of patients with heart failure. Other cellular therapy methods for repairing the heart, such as transplanting modified cells from other skeletal muscle tissue to regrow healthy myocardial tissue, are being studied. Hopefully, one or more methods will prove safe and reliable in the years to come.

[Cady B]

Stem cells can differentiate into many types of other cells. These are the cells that create your entire body from an embryo. Think, you started out as a single cell that multiplied and created all of your organs, skin, eyes, bones, (etc.). Why the stem cells attach to damaged tissue, I am unsure. However, once attached, they get signals from the surrounding cells and differentiate, and thus, aid in rebuilding and repairing tissue that otherwise may not be capable of doing so.

Very interesting article, I’m looking forward to hearing more about the use of UCDS cells in the treatment of disease.

[Jen]

One potential benefit of umbilical cord stem cells is that they are less likely to cause transplant rejection than donated bone marrow or blood stem cells. Transplant rejection is less likely to occur because umbilical cord stem cells have not developed the features that the recipient’s immune system can recognize and attack.

In addition, patients who receive umbilical cord blood have a decreased risk of developing graft-versus host disease (GVHD). GVHD is less likely to occur because the umbilical cord blood does not contain well-developed immune cells needed to launch an attack.

[Kalyn]

I would like to see this study done in humans over a long period of time. Currently, there are many research and studies that have been conducted. But yet, how do we know this is safe and appropriate?

[MV]

I agree that research should be done to see effects of using UCDS on humans, but at least this type of research provides a basis and a positive lead into looking at UCDS for heart attacks and treating other conditions. With all the controversy that surrounds stem cell research as mentioned before, UCDS research seems like it has a promising future.

[Emily P.]

I’m a supporter of both stem cell and umbilical cord stem cell research. There is so much promise in this research, and I only hope it continues at an even faster rate in the future.

[Paul]

I'm most amazed that human UCSCs were used in rats! I know that valves and some other tissues have been grafted xenographically, but I am really surprised that stem cells would be able to differentiate in another species of animal. Does this open a new field of thought...what about rat embryonic stem cells for use in humans? That could solve a lot of ethical issues, as well as open up research into other stem cell types. A lot of animals have more robust immune systems and other tissues than humans, so maybe their stem cells could offer other advantages. Just a thought.

[Janet]

Excellent site!! i agree that this cell transplantation offers promise in the restoration of cardiac function after myocardial infarction (heart attack). Researchers investigated the therapeutic potential of human UCDS cells in a rat myocardial infarction model.

[Tea Bags]

Cell transplantation is really a good technique that helps restore cardiac function. Other cellular therapy methods for repairing the heart, such as transplanting modified cells from other skeletal muscle tissue to regrow healthy myocardial tissue, are being studied