Porcine cardiomyocytes and their use in treatment of insufficient cardiac function

Abstract

Abstract Porcine cardiomyocytes and methods for using the cardiomyocytes to treat disorders characterized by insufficient cardiac function are described. The porcine cardiomyocytes are preferably embryonic porcine cardiomyocytes. The porcine cardiomyocytes can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine cardiomyocytes can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cardiomyocyte surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cardiomyocytes in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cardiomyocyte when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine cardiomyocytes are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject. The porcine cardiomyocytes of the present invention can be used to treat disorders characterized by insufficient cardiac function, e.g., congestive heart failure, in a xenogeneic subject by administering the cardiomyocytes to the subject.

Inventors

• 👤 Jonathan Dinsmore

Bibliographic Details