Grant: Project Grant

Stem cells-based therapies are considered a novel option for the treatment of different disease conditions including heart disease. Stem cells have the ability to repair the heart after an injury due to heart attack. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from young and healthy volunteers have emerged as ideal cell type for heart repair, because after transplantation to the heart, these cells can suppress the recipient's immune response and survive in the heart. However, outcomes of recent animal studies and clinical trials have been disappointing, as the donor cells after transplantation were rejected by the host immune system that impaired the benefits of MSCs based therapies. Therefore, strategies to prevent rejection of transplanted donor derived MSCs would be highly valuable in preserving benefits of cardiac stem cell therapy. The objectives of current proposal are to understand cell signaling pathways that lead to rejection of transplanted donor derived MSCs in the heart. In the proposed studies we will use mouse and human bone marrow derived stem cells from both males and females to understand the reasons of transplanted stem cells rejection in the recipient heart. We will also use male and female mouse models of heart failure to find out the best possible way out to modify the stem cells to enhance the survival of transplanted stem cells in the heart. The outcome of this research proposal will help in developing new strategies to prevent rejection and improve survival of transplanted cells in the heart. The long-term objectives of this research are directed toward improving the quality of life of patients with heart disease using stem cell therapy.