Regeneration of nonhuman primate hearts with hiPSC-CSs

“The clinical application of human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) for cardiac repair commenced with the epicardial delivery of engineered cardiac tissue; however, the feasibility of the direct delivery of human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived CMs into the cardiac muscle layer, which has reportedly induced electrical integration, is unclear because of concerns about poor engraftment of CMs and posttransplant arrhythmias. Thus, in this study, we prepared purified human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac spheroids (hiPSC-CSs) and investigated whether their direct injection could regenerate infarcted nonhuman primate hearts. . . . .  We demonstrated that direct injection of hiPSC-CSs restores the contractile functions of injured primate hearts with an acceptable risk of posttransplant arrhythmia. Although the mechanism for the functional benefits is not fully elucidated, these findings provide a strong rationale for conducting clinical trials using the equivalent CM products.”      MORE

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