Abstract 18510: Cardiac Atrial Appendage Stem Cells Restore Cardiac Function in Chronic Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Cardiac atrial appendage stem cells have been shown to preserve cardiac function in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the minipig model : this application takes advantage of preserved extracellular tissue architecture, although it is subject to the inflammatory hostility of the milieu. Hypothesis: Whether this treatment is also applicable to a chronic ischemia model remains unknown. Methods: Autologous CASCs were isolated from atrial appendages of Gottingen minipigs based on high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and expanded. MI was induced by 2 h snare ligation of the left anterior descending artery. Two months (M) after MI induction, CASCs were intramyocardially injected under NOGA guidance (MI-CASC, n=6). Non-transplanted pigs (MI, n= 8) received sham treatment. 3D electromechanical mapping (EMM) and cardiac MRI were performed to assess left ventricular (LV) function. Results: Global LV ejection fraction was preserved 2M post-injection in the MI-CASC group (57±13% pre vs 6...