Biomark Med. 2015 May 27:1-11. [Epub ahead of print]

Cardiopoietic index predicts heart repair fitness of patient-derived stem cells.

Crespo-Diaz R, Yamada S, Bartunek J¹, Perez-Terzic C, de Waele P², Mauën S², Terzic A, Behfar A.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Stem cell therapy shows promise for regeneration in heart disease, yet interpatient variability challenges implementation into practice.

AIM:

To establish a biomarker profile, predictive of reparative potential in patient-derived progenitors, human mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

Stem cell delivery postinfarction translated into divergent benefit, distinguishing reparative from nonreparative populations.

RESULTS:

While the nonreparative subtype was characterized by low expression of cardiac transcription factors, reparative human mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated high expression of cardiac transcription factors.

CONCLUSION:

This index of factors (cardiopoietic index) was found sensitive and specific in predicting impact of stem cell benefit on left ventricular function. The cardiopoietic index thus offers a tool to screen stem cell fitness for heart repair prior to intervention.