A recent study has revealed that heart muscle cells developed from induced pluripotent stem cells can successfully integrate into the hearts of monkeys suffering from pressure overload.
According to new findings from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Mayo Clinic, heart muscle cells derived from stem cells show potential in treating monkeys with heart issues, often linked to congenital heart defects present from birth in humans.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, impacting individuals at various life stages, including from birth with conditions known as congenital heart defects. The ability to regenerate heart tissue to promote healthy function could help many patients maintain stronger and healthier hearts, highlighting the importance of stem cell research.
Led by Marina Emborg, a professor at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and Timothy Nelson, a physician scientist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the team recently published their findings in the journal Cell Transplantation. Their research indicates that heart muscle cells grown from induced pluripotent stem cells can effectively integrate into the hearts of monkeys with pressure overload.
This condition, known as right ventricular dysfunction, often occurs in children with congenital heart defects, leading to symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and swelling, potentially resulting in a compromised heart. If not addressed, it can become life-threatening.
Almost all congenital heart defects involving a single ventricle, particularly affecting the right side, can culminate in heart failure. While surgical intervention may correct the defect temporarily, the researchers note that this is not a permanent solution. Over time, patients often face the need for a heart transplant, but finding suitable donor hearts is challenging, especially considering the young age of many patients.
The study concentrated on using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as a supplementary treatment alongside traditional surgical repair for heart defects, aiming to enhance ventricular function and promote overall healing.
“There is a significant need for alternative treatments for this condition,” remarks Jodi Scholz, the lead author of the study and chair of Comparative Medicine at Mayo Clinic. “Stem cell therapies could one day delay or even eliminate the need for heart transplants.”
The researchers transplanted clinical-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells—originating from human donors, reverted back to a stem cell state, and developed into heart-compatible cells—into rhesus macaque monkeys that had undergone surgery to induce right ventricular pressure overload. These cells successfully integrated with the surrounding heart tissue, which was closely monitored throughout the study. The authors noted that five out of the 16 monkeys receiving the transplanted cells experienced episodes of ventricular tachycardia (rapid heart rate), with two of the monkeys suffering from persistent tachycardia; however, these issues resolved within 19 days.
“We aimed to deliver the cells to bolster the existing cardiac tissue,” Emborg explains. “In this specific study, which serves as a precursor to trials in humans, it was crucial to ensure the transplanted cells were safe and would integrate well with the surrounding tissue. We utilized our team’s expertise in stem cells and cardiac assessment, particularly in Parkinson’s disease, to evaluate this pioneering therapeutic approach.”
The research demonstrated both the feasibility and safety of using stem cells in the first nonhuman primate model of right ventricular pressure overload. Macaques have been pivotal in advancing stem cell treatments for various health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eye disorders.
“The successful integration and maturation of these cells within a compromised heart is a promising advancement towards clinical applications for congenital heart defects,” Emborg states.
This research was funded by the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and supported by National Institutes of Health Grant P51OD011106 to the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.
