Felipe Prosper - University of Navarra (Sub-project 2)
Hematology and Cell Therapy
Clinica Universitaria
Universidad de Navarra
Av. Pio XII 36
31008 Pamplona, Spain
Phone: +34 948 255400-2453
FAX: +34 948 296500
e-Mail: fprosper@unav.es
Website: http://www.unav.es
This group has demonstrated that a population of bone marrow (BM) derived stem cells termed MAPCs (multipotent adult progenitor cells) capable to differentiate in vivo and in vitro to tissues derived from all 3 germ layers can contribute to improve cardiac performance in murine models of acute and chronic myocardial infarction (MI). However, the limited engraftment of MAPCs in these models suggests paracrine mechanism for the effects of MAPC transplant. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies with human MAPCs demonstrated the potential of MAPC to differentiate not only into endothelial cells but also into smooth muscle cells both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that the vasculogenic potential of MAPC may contribute to improve cardiac performance in models of ischemia. While the potential of MAPC to differentiate into cardiomyocytes has not been demonstrated, adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSC) can be differentiated into functional cardiomyocytes. Also, their benefit when transplanted into the acute ischemic heart has been demonstrated.
To address some of the potential mechanisms by which SC contributes to tissue regeneration we will analyze the gene expression profile (transcriptome) and micro-RNAs of both ADSC and MAPC cells both at baseline and upon differentiation to vascular and cardiac cells in order to determine new genes involved in the differentiation of SC and thus, to be able to manipulate the differentiation of the transplanted cells or even the local progenitor cells.