Safety, Feasibility and Effectiveness of First in-Human Administration of Muscle-Derived Stem/Progenitor Cells Modified with Connexin-43 Gene for Treatment of Advanced Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract

Injection of Cx-43-MDS/PCs in patients with severe HF led to significant improvement in exercise capacity and myocardial viability of the injected segments while inducing no significant ventricular arrhythmia. This may arise from improved electrical coupling of the injected cells and injured myocardium and thus better in-situ mechanical cooperation of both cell types. Therefore, further clinical studies with Cx43+ MDS/PCs are warranted.