Homing miocárdico após infusão intrapericárdica de Células Mononucleares de Medula Óssea

Abstract

Stem cells have been explored as a treatment for cardiac diseases, being related to possible neovascularization and tissue formation1 . Stem cell transplantation has been performed through intracoronary, intramyocardial and retrograde infusion techniques2-4; however, it presents limitations and has reduced applications in clinical practice. Previous studies tested the pericardial space for drug administration5 . Theoretically, the transpericardial approach presents potential advantages for cell administration, including the pericardial sac’s non-vascular characteristic that may permit repeated procedures. The pericardial space may serve as a depot compartment, thereby enhancing local bioavailability of infused cells. However, the transpericardial approach for stem cell therapy has been poorly explored. This preliminary study evaluates whether the administration of autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells (BMMC) into the pericardial space is followed by myocardial cell homing in control and myocardial infarction-induced cases