Autologous CXCR4+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells Injected Into the Scar Tissue of Chronic Myocardial Infarction Patients Normalizes Tissue Contractility and Perfusion

Background Chronic myocardial infarction (CMI), represents a public health and a financial burden. Since stem cell transplant is used to regenerate cardiac tissue after acute myocardial infarction. Aim of the study To determine if autologous CXCR4 stem cells could restore damaged myocardial tissue in patients with CMI lesions. Methods 20 NYHA grade III male patients with CMI defined by clinical, biochemical, ECG and echocardiographic parameters were included. Patients were treated with G-CSF for 6 d before isolating their autologous stem cells from PBMCs. Cell phenotyping was done by cytofluorometry using monoclonal antibodies (anti-CXCR4, −CD34, −48, −117, −133, −Ki67, −SDF1 and CXCR4); CXCR4 cell subpopulations isolated by sorting were adjusted to 1 × 108 cells by subpopulation and injected in a circular pattern into the cicatrix previously defined by echocardiography. Results Patients were followed for 6 and 12 months. Six months after cell implant improvements in left ventricle ejection fraction (from 33–50%), stress rate values (from −3/−9% to −18/−22%), stress tests (from 4–12 METS), and the quantity of left ventricle affected segments (3–9) disappeared according to the G-SPECT images. 12 months evaluations did not show significant differences. Interestingly, 3 months after cell implant the ECG showed normal electrical activity in 9 patients whereas after 6 months it was normal in all the patients. Conclusions These results ratify that locally injected autologous CXCR4+ bone marrow-derived stem cells have a physiological and a clinical impact in patients with CMI.