Multipotent adult progenitor cells sustain function of ischemic limbs in mice.

Despite progress in cardiovascular research, a cure for peripheral vascular disease has not been found. We compared the vascularization and tissue regeneration potential of murine and human undifferentiated multipotent adult progenitor cells (mMAPC-U and hMAPC-U), murine MAPC-derived vascular progenitors (mMAPC-VP), and unselected murine BM cells (mBMCs) in mice with moderate limb ischemia, reminiscent of intermittent claudication in human patients. mMAPC-U durably restored blood flow and muscle function and stimulated muscle regeneration, by direct and trophic contribution to vascular and skeletal muscle growth.

Multipotent adult progenitor cell transplantation increases vascularity and improves left ventricular function after myocardial infarction.

Progressive contractile dysfunction of viable myocardium that surrounds a large infarct leads to heart failure following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Experimental evidence indicates that cellular transplantation may improve the left ventricular (LV) contractile performance, even though the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Here, we compared the effect of transplantation of murine multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), a population of adult bone marrow-derived cells that differentiate into cells of mesodermal, endodermal and ectodermal origin, with murine bone marrow cells (BMCs) or fibroblasts on post-infarct cardiac function by peri-infarct injection after coronary artery ligation in mice.

Deletion of STAT-1 pancreatic islets protects against streptozotocin-induced diabetes and early graft failure but not against late rejection.

Objective: Exposure of beta-cells to inflammatory cytokines leads to apoptotic cell death through the activation of gene networks under the control of specific transcription factors, such as interferon-gamma-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1. We previously demonstrated that beta-cells lacking STAT-1 are resistant to cytokine-induced cell death in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of STAT-1 elimination on immune-mediated beta-cell destruction in vivo.