Invention:
This technology describes Chimetic Antigen Receptor (CAR) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their use in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This technology will use engineered MSCs capable of homing toward infarcted heart tissue.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. There are multiple treatments and strategies to prevent heart disease. Many of these are ineffective as incidence of heart disease has increased. MSCs have been studied as a potential treatment but have shortcomings that need to be addressed: short survival, billions of cells required for clinical benefit, donor variations, and limited differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Some of these shortcomings have been addressed through preconditioning, cytokine treatment, and gene modification.
Applications:
- Various regenerative therapies
- Heart diseases
Advantages:
- Cardiac differentiation
- Increased homing
- Allogenic stem cell therapy
Stage of Development: concept as a platform, initial in vitro studies
