간엽줄기세포가 심근경색환자에서 심근세포로 분화하는 것을 증명

12 Miller School researchers began with the theory that mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to become implanted and differentiate within infarcted (or scarred) myocardium, damaged heart tissue. Using animal models, the scientists injected mesenchymal stem cells or a placebo into the subjects, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track the heart's healing, and then employed state-of-the-art microscopy to determine the fate of the injected cells with markers of cardiac, vascular muscle and endothelial lineage.

What the team found was that the MSCs implanted into the infarct areas, differentiated into cardiomyocytes, heart tissue, and persisted within the heart for months following injection. The mesenchymal stem cells also generated new small and large blood vessels. In animals that were given mesenchymal stem cells, there was a reduction in the amount of scar tissue, increased blood flow to the area, and very importantly a restoration of cardiac function.

정말, MSCs가 심근세포가 될까 라는 의문하에 실험을 한 그룹이 있네요.
골수유래  MSCs를 심근경색을 유발한 동물의 심장에 직접 주사를 했습니다.
 심근, 혈관근육, 혈관내피세포의 표지자를 이용해서 MSCs의 운명을 최신식 현미경으로 관찰했답니다.

그랬더니, MSC가 정말로 심장근육과 심장세포들로 분화를 했고 수개월동안  그 자리에서 관찰이 되었다네요.
또한, MSCs는 새로운 혈관들도 만들어내었답니다.

그래서, 죽은 scar조직이 감소했고, 심근경색으로 상한곳으로 혈류가 증가 했으며,
심장의 기능이 되돌아 왔답니다. !!

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