Characteristics of Cardiac Cell Cultures Derived from Human Myocardial Explants.

Primary cell cultures derived from human myocardial explants were obtained and characterized. The explant cultures contained cardiac stem cells (c-kit +; ~4%), microvascular cells (endothelial cells and pericytes), fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts. It was demonstrated that culturing of cardiac cells in cardiospheres did not promote enrichment of the cell culture with stem cells. MACS-sorted c-kit + cells from the explant culture were characterized by limited proliferative capacity and were capable of cardiomyogenic differentiation. The presence of microvascular cells determined general angiogenic potential of the culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]