Session number: 105000
Session title: Novel sources of stem cells
Authors: Emanueli, C. Bristol, United Kingdom
This exciting symposium was very well attended, thus testifying the enormous interest of the cardiovascular community in stem cells. The speakers delivered very interesting talks.
Dr. R Vettor ( Padua , Italy ) selected multipotent cells from the adult adipose tissue and induced the differentiation of some subclones in cardiomyocyte-like cells.
Dr. LJ Field ( Indianapolis , USA ) studied the potential of putative cardiac resident progenitor cells to give origin to “real” cardiomyocytes. To this aim, he selected Lineage negative/Sca-1 positive cells from the adult heart of mice genetically modified to express the fluorescent protein EGFP and transplanted them in the heart of wild type mice.
By using a device able to record the intracellular calcium transients in situ, Dr. Field proved that after 3 weeks, the transplantation-derived EGFP-positive cells did not show intracellular calcium transients. Additionally, these cells did not present a cardiomyocyte-like morphology.
This finding is in striking contrast with the working hypothesis of Piero Anversa and others that cardiac resident stem and progenitor cells may regenerate the heart by replacing damaged cardiomyocytes.
Dr. S. Fuchs ( Petach-Tikva , Israel ) presented a good review of the cardiovascular clinical trials with stem cells (mainly of bone marrow origin).
Dr. P. De Coppi ( London , UK ) illustrated his very well conducted work on stem cells derived from the amniotic fluid and the placenta.
Finally, Dr. C. Denning ( Nottingham , UK ) presented an excellent talk on embryonic stem cells.
Conclusion
The field of stem cells is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and fashionable. On the wave of this enthusiasm, stem and progenitors cells have been derived from almost any kind of source. While the totipotency of embryonic stem cells is quite obvious, the stem potential of adult progenitor cells is more discussed and many would think that the paracrine properties of these cells are more important.
On the other side, multipotency is dangerous when you want to use stem cells therapeutically. We are still a long way before fully understanding the physiology of stem and progenitor cells and optimising cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
The content of this article reflects the personal opinion of the
author/s and is not necessarily the official position of the
European Society of Cardiology.