Placental cells for regenerative medicine
Stem cells have been found for the regeneration of the heart and other organs
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
Scientists have identified a type of placental stem cells that improve heart function after an attack. Potentially, they can also restore other organs – this opens up huge prospects for regenerative medicine.
Researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York, USA) have proven the regenerative properties of placental stem cells called Cdx2 to restore the heart after a heart attack. At the same time, experiments on animal models indicate the potential for regeneration for other organs as well.
Article by Vadakke-Madathil et al. Multipotent fetal-derived Cdx2 cells from placenta regenerate the heart is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – VM.
"Previously, it was believed that Cdx2 cells form the placenta only at the stage of early embryonic development and there was no evidence that they are able to repair other organs," says senior author of the study Hina Choudry.
Experiments have shown that cells can target the site of injury and move to it through the circulatory system. At the same time, they manage to avoid rejection by the immune system.
In previous studies, the team found that a mixed population of placental stem cells from pregnant mice repaired a damaged heart. To find out which type of cells played a major role in the process, the team conducted a new experiment with male mice.
Scientists provoked a heart attack in rodents and treated them in three different ways. The first group received therapy with placental stem cells Cdx2, the second received cells from the placenta that did not express Cdx2, and saline was used for the third group. After the procedure and after the control three months, an MRI was performed.
The condition of mice treated with Cdx2 cells improved significantly, and regeneration was observed in the heart tissues. By three months after treatment, the cells had moved directly to the site of injury and formed new blood vessels and cardiomyocytes. No signs of regeneration were observed in the other groups.
Cdx2 also revealed other important properties. They have all the proteins of embryonic stem cells, which are able to regenerate all organs of the body, as well as additional proteins, thanks to which the cells move to the site of damage and avoid immune rejection. "The immune system will not reject these cells if they are collected from the placenta of another animal," the authors explain.
According to scientists, the findings open up huge opportunities for regenerative medicine in general.
"Placentas are regularly disposed of in maternity hospitals, but they can become an almost limitless source of biomaterial for regeneration," the researchers conclude.
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