Cell transplantation for treatment of acute myocardial infarction: unique capacity for repair by skeletal muscle satellite cells

An adult heart injured by an ischemic episode has a limited capacity to regenerate. We administered three types of adult guinea pig cells [cardiomyocytes (CMs), cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and skeletal myoblasts (Mbs)] to compare their suitability for repair of acute myocardial infarction. We used confocal fluorescent microscopy and a variety of specific immunomarkers and echocardiography to provide anatomic evidence for the viability of such cells and their possible functional beneficial effects. All cells were transfected with adenovirus-containing β-galactosidase gene so that migration from the injection sites could be traced. Both freshly isolated CMs as well as CFs were found concentrated in the infarcted zone; these cells survived for at least 2 wk posttransplantation. Transplanted CMs were regularly striated and grew long projections that could form gap junctions with native CMs, which was evidenced by connexin43 labeling. In addition, CM transplantation resulted in increased angiogenesis in the infarcted areas. In contrast, transplanted CFs did not appear to make any gap junctional contacts with native CMs nor did they enhance local angiogenesis. Mbs cultured for 7 days and transfected Mbs were identified 7 days posttransplantation in the infarcted area. During that time and thereafter, Mbs proliferated and differentiated into myotubes that formed new, regularly striated myofibers that occupied most (50–70%) of the infarcted area by 2–3 wk. These newly formed myofibers maintained their Mb skeletal muscle origin as evidenced by their capacity to express myogenin and fast skeletal myosin. This skeletal phenotype appeared to downregulate with time, and Mbs partially transdifferentiated into a cardiac phenotype as indicated by labeling for cardiac-specific troponin T and cardiac myosin heavy chain. By the third week posttransplantation, new myofibers formed apparent contacts with the native CMs via putative gap junctions that expressed connexin43. Myocardial performance of animals that were successfully transplanted with Mbs was improved.