Abstract
Objectives:
Transplantation of bone marrow derived cells is currently under clinical evaluation as a therapy for ischemic cheart disease. An important aspect in clinical studies is the inability to track the fate of the transplanted cells and to right rout of cell application. We aimed to assess a clinically applicable technique using a 1.5-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] and nanoparticle labelled transplanted mononuclear stem cells (MNCs) in pig hearts.
Methods:
MNCs were isolated from bone marrow by Ficol separation and labelled by using intracellular magnertic beads. The circumflex artery was ligated. 3×10
7
cells were transplanted into myocardium via transepicardial injection or retrograde perfusion of the coronary sinus. The hearts were explanted. MRI on a 1.5 T scanner was performed to demonstrate the distribution of the cells. Systemic Gadolinium injection was used for identification of the infarcted myocardium.
Results:
MNCs were identified on MRI gradient within the myocardium in both groups. The distribution pattern of cells within the myocardium was more global in the coronary sinus group compared to the epicardial group, where the cells were only visible at the site of injection.
Conclusion:
Stem cells injected via the coronary sinus or transepicardially for myocardial restoration can be visualized by 1.5 T MRI.