Experimental noninvasive tool monitors effectiveness of stem cell transplantation

Experimental noninvasive tool monitors effectiveness of stem cell transplantation

Stem-cell based therapies to strengthen the heart muscle and treat other diseases are beginning to show promise in human clinical trials. However, other than observing clinical outcomes, lack of a repeatable, time-sensitive and noninvasive tool to assess the effectiveness of the transplanted cells within the target organ has slowed progress in the stem cell field.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), the University of Pennsylvania and Emory University theorized that a could be used to track the efficacy of transplanted stem cells. They aimed to achieve their goal by analyzing tiny cellular components called exosomes, secreted from the transplanted stem cells into the recipient blood. They tested their theory in rodent models of heart attack, or myocardial infarction, after transplanting two types of human cardiac stem cells and monitoring their circulating exosomes. The researchers found circulating exosomes delivered cell components to the target heart muscle cells, resulting in cardiac repair. Results are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"Exosomes contain the signals of the cells they're derived from—proteins as well as and micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) - which affect receptor cells and remodel or regenerate the organ we're targeting," said study co-senior author Sunjay Kaushal, Ph.D., MD, Professor of Surgery at UMSOM and Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital. "We now have a tool to determine whether stem cell therapy will be efficacious for an individual patient, not only for the heart but for any organ that received stem cell therapy."

Sunday Kaushal, PhD., MD, describes how a liquid biopsy can provide a window into the activity and effectiveness of stem cell transplantation. Credit: Universiyt of Maryland Medicine

Through the blood test, which the researchers call a "liquid biopsy," the researchers monitored human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) and cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) transplanted into rat hearts following myocardial infarction. Blood plasma concentrations of the exosomes were compared seven days after transplant.

After purifying the CDC/CPC-derived exosomes, the researchers found the exosomes contained miRNAs associated with recovery. Further, they found CPCs and CDCs produced in culture differed in contents from exosomes produced by transplanted cells in the .

"Our study should be considered the first stepping stone in understanding what do, but an important point is that the cells we identified as responding changed their , behavior and secretions," said co-lead author Sudhish Sharma, Ph.D., UMSOM Assistant Professor of Surgery. "By using these biomarkers, we can understand the mechanism and extent of recovery."

More information: P. Saha el al., "Circulating exosomes derived from transplanted progenitor cells aid the functional recovery of ischemic myocardium," Science Translational Medicine (2019). stm.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/ … scitranslmed.aau1168

Journal information: Science Translational Medicine
Citation: Experimental noninvasive tool monitors effectiveness of stem cell transplantation (2019, May 22) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-05-experimental-noninvasive-tool-effectiveness-stem.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

How the heart sends an SOS signal to bone marrow cells after a heart attack

109 shares

Feedback to editors