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oa Endothelila based cardiac regeneration
- Publisher: Hamad bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press)
- Source: Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings, Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings Volume 2018 Issue 2, Mar 2018, Volume 2018, HBPP746
Abstract
Background - The regenerative ability of the heart is very low, making patients with myocardial damage potential candidates for cell-based regenerative therapy. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are a promising source of repopulating cardiomyocytes (CMs). While the quantity of CMs obtained is no longer a limitation in current differentiation protocols, their inotropy needs to be improved.We have creaated in Doha since the last 10 years a unique plafrm based on endothelial feeder as an instructive niche for organ regeneration. We have been ablse so for to demonstrate efficient regeneration in liver lung and HSCs regeneration. Here we hypothesized that we could improve maturation of CMs and facilitate electrical interconnections by creating a mixture of cell types that more closely resembles heart tissue - i.e. containing both endothelial cells (ECs) and cardiomycocytes. Using our unique endothelial platfrom we demonstrated an increased in differentiated functional CM. CMs formed under these conditions displayed a higher rate of contraction. The co-culture with endothelial cells led to synchronized beating relying on the endothelial network as illustrated by the loss of synchronization upon the disruption of endothelial bridges. Hence we created a unique platfrom allowing to expand functional cardiomycocytes that could be potentially used in cell therapy protocol. Our research promotes the concept of organoid based cell therapy.