Methods and compositions for the repair and/or regeneration of damaged myocardium

Abstract

Methods, compositions, and kits for repairing damaged myocardium and / or myocardial cells including the administration of stem cells, such as adult stem cells, optionally with cytokines are disclosed and claimed.

Description

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of cardiology, and more particularly relates to methods and cellular compositions for treatment of a patient suffering from a cardiovascular disease, including, but not limited to, atherosclerosis, ischemia, hypertension, restenosis, angina pectoris, rheumatic heart disease, congenital cardiovascular defects and arterial inflammation and other disease of the arteries, arterioles and capillaries.[0004] Moreover, the present invention relates to any one or more of:[0005] Methods and / or pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of somatic stem cells alone or in combination with a cytokine such as a cytokine selected from the group consisting of stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), stromal cell-derived factor-1, steel factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0036] It has surprisingly been found that the implantation of hematopoietic stem cells into the myocardium surrounding an infarct following a myocardial infarction, migrate into the damaged area, where they differentiate into myocytes, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells and then proliferate and form structures including myocardium, coronary arteries, arterioles, and capillaries, restoring the structural and functional integrity of the infarct.

Problems solved by technology

Cardiovascular disease is a major health risk throughout the industrialized world.

Ischemia is a condition characterized by a lack of oxygen supply in tissues of organs due to inadequate perfusion.

Many medical interventions, such as the interruption of the flow of blood during bypass surgery, for example, also lead to ischemia.

Ischemia may occur in any organ, however, that is suffering a lack of oxygen supply.

Without adequate blood supply, the tissue becomes ischemic, leading to the death of myocytes and vascular structures.

These treatments may succeed in reestablishing the blood supply, however tissue damage that occurred before the reperfusion treatment began has been thought to be irreversible.

While the cells may survive after transplantation, they fail to reconstitute healthy myocardium and coronary vessels that are both functionally and structurally sound.

Once the cells have reached the blastula stage, the potential of the cells has lessened, with the cells still able to develop into any cell within the body, however they are unable to develop into the support tissues needed for development of an embryo.

Due to the regenerative properties of stem cells, they have been considered an untapped resource for potential engineering of tissues and organs.

Furthermore, at least certain of these patent documents fail to teach or suggest the present invention for additional reasons.

The source of the stem cells of interest is limited to the known precursors of the type of tissue for which regeneration is required.

Obtaining and purifying these specific cells can be extremely difficult, as there are often very few stem cells in a given tissue.

And, other of these patent documents utilize stem cells as the source of various chemical compositions, without utilizing their proliferative capabilities, and thereby fail to teach or suggest the invention.

Despite their relevance in other areas, these earlier studies do not describe any cellular transplantation technology that can be successfully applied to the heart, where the ability to replace damaged myocardium would have obvious clinical relevance.

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