Key result
hPSC-CMs improve end-systolic circumferential strain to ~-4% vs vehicle in infarcted minipig hearts.
Why the study?
Transplantation of hPSC-CMs is a promising approach for heart remuscularization, but precise non-invasive assessment of regional contractile function in infarcted segments is needed.
Does transendocardial transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes improve regional myocardial end-systolic circumferential strain in a minipig model of myocardial infarction?
Does transendocardial transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes improve regional myocardial end-systolic circumferential strain in a minipig model of myocardial infarction?
A novel frequency-based myocardial tagging quantification method demonstrates that hPSC-CM transplantation improves regional circumferential strain in a minipig model of myocardial infarction.
Regional strain gains in minipig MI model; leaves open translation to human outcomes or global function.
Background Transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) is promising new method for heart remuscularization after infarction. We hypothesized that hPSC-CMs affect heart function by improving local contractility in the infarcted zones. However, there is a need for a precise non-invasive assessment of regional contractile function in the infarcted segments. Methods We describe here a novel approach for rapid and robust quantification of myocardial end-systolic circumferential strain (CS). Linear tags are placed in 60-degree pattern offsets and analyzed via optimized post-processing based on local Fourier transformation of standardized American Heart Association (AHA) myocardial segmentation. This method has been implemented for the first time to evaluate transendocardial hPSC-CMs transplantation in a minipig model of myocardial infarction. Validation of the new frequency-based calculation of myocardial strain was done using two independent approaches: (1) a tag tracking, and (2) feature tracking technique. Results In the cell-treated hearts (n=4), mean end-systolic CS in the infarcted segments (anterior and anteroseptal areas combined) at the mid-wall region decreased from -6.69 ± 1.56% (pre-MI) to -1.13 ± 1.96% at 2 weeks post-MI (pre-treatment), with subsequent improvement to -4.00 ± 0.76% by 8 weeks after cell transplantation. Conversely, CS in the infarcted segments in vehicle-control group (n=5) decreased from -5.18 ± 0.97% (pre-MI) to -1.39 ± 1.23% at 2 weeks post-MI and worsened further to 0.33 ± 1.93% by 8 weeks post-vehicle. There was no improvement in the global ejection fraction in the cell-treated group in comparison with control. It was a high correlation of the new method of myocardial strain calculation with the standard tag tracking approach and feature tracking strain analysis across the experimental conditions (normal heart, infarcted, cell/vehicle treated). Conclusions A novel frequency-based technique for assessment of local circumferential strain does not require specialized acquisition protocols, access to k-space data, nor highly optimized reconstruction algorithms or commercial software. It can quickly and precisely assess regional myocardial injury and recovery. Our findings support our hypothesis that transplantation of hPSC-CMs improves regional myocardial strain in infarcted minipig hearts.
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Naumova et al. (2026) studied Myocardial infarction (minipig model) (n=9). Transendocardial human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) transplantation vs. Vehicle-control was evaluated on Mean end-systolic circumferential strain (CS) in the infarcted segments at the mid-wall region at 8 weeks. Transplantation of hPSC-CMs in infarcted minipig hearts improved mean end-systolic circumferential strain to -4.00% at 8 weeks compared to 0.33% in vehicle controls.
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