Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocyte Patch in Rats with Heart Failure

Abstract Background To treat chronic heart failure (CHF), we developed a robust, easy to handle bio absorbable tissue-engineered patch embedded with human neonatal fibroblasts and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). This patch was implanted on the epicardial surface of the heart covering the previously infarcted tissue. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks old) underwent sham surgery (N=12) or left coronary artery ligation (N=45). Three weeks after ligation CHF rats were randomized to either CHF control with sham thoracotomy (N=21) or had a fibroblasts/hiPSC-CMs patch (N=24) implanted. In addition, all sham surgery rats obtained a sham thoracotomy. Three weeks after randomization hemodynamics, echocardiography, electrophysiologic and cell survival studies were performed. Results Patch treated rats had decreased (P Conclusions Epicardial implantation of a fibroblasts/hiPSC-CMs patch electrically enhanced conduction, lowered left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and improved diastolic function in rats with CHF. These changes were associated with increases in cytokine expression.