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Stem cells show potential in heart  by Heather Woolwine Public Relations MUSC cardiovascular biologists Rick Visconti, Ph.D., Cell Biology and Anatomy assistant professor, and Christopher Drake, Ph.D., Cell Biology and Anatomy professor, published a stem cell breakthrough in a recent issue of Circulation Research.   For the first time, using an animal model, the researchers demonstrated that circulating bone marrow-derived stem cells are recruited into the heart valve.   The study suggests a change in how scientists view heart valve biology and offers practical implications for understanding pathogenesis and development of novel therapies for the treatment of heart valve diseases using stem cell therapy. The study also demonstrates the potential for using stem cells as a source for engineered-tissue heart valves.   According to John Raymond, M.D., vice president of academic affairs and provost, the recent discovery demonstrates the coming of age of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine research at MUSC. “South Carolina stem cell specialists are becoming nationally recognized and can successfully compete on any level,” he said. “However, the most important news for us is that the discovery of stem cell contribution to heart valvulogensis opens a new perspective and opportunity for using autologous stem cells for treatment in patients with severe heart valve disease.”   With the help of noted hematologist professor Makio Ogawa, M.D., Ph.D., experimental hematology director and medicine professor, the study used mice with genetically labeled bone marrow cells to trace bone marrow stem cell mobilization and recruitment into heart valve tissue. The study’s co-author, MUSC Cardiovascular Developmental Biology Center (CDBC) director Roger Markwald, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy chair, said, “I’ve always believed that heart valve morphogenesis is a lifelong process and that heart valve growth and turnover include not only resident but also circulated cells. This paper proves it. It is a fundamental discovery. In practical terms, this data strongly suggests using autologous adult stem cells as a cell source for heart valve tissue engineering.”     Markwald said the work of other scientists in the CDBC on zebra fish and chicken also strongly support Visconti and Drake’s discovery.   “This is an important milestone and it will allow MUSC scientists to submit strong proposals to the NIH for further support in investigating this new phenomenon,” Drake said.   “The three next and most important steps are: to study the role of circulated stem cells in mechanisms of heart valve growth and turnover during normal development and heart disease, as well as the functional role of the recruited stem cell in the heart valve tissue; to try and marry nanotechnology with stem cell biology and use stem cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles for clinical MRI based diagnostic bioimaging; and finally, to try and combine stem cells and gene therapy by using stem cells in regenerative medicine as a gene carrier for a targeted gene therapy of heart valve disease,” Visconti said.   Visconti also hopes to establish collaboration in the emerging field of nanomedicine with Joseph Schoepf, M.D., associate professor of radiology, a world-renowned leader in his field who published the first paper on using magnetic nanoparticles for tracing stem cells, he said.   Friday, June 2, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publication at 849-1778, ext. 201.