Genetically altered mammalian embryonic stem cells, their living progeny, and their therapeutic application for improving cardiac function after myocardial infarction

摘要

The present invention provides genetically altered mammalian embryonic stem cells, their living descendent progeny having an altered genomic DNA, and therapeutic methods using these cells for improving cardiac function in a living subject after myocardial infarction. The genetically altered embryonic stem and progenitor cells may be maintained in-vitro as a stable cell line; and transplanted as active, mitotic cells to an infarcted area of the myocardial using any surgical procedure. After transplantation at a chosen anatomic site within the heart of the subject, these genetically altered cells will differentiate in-site, cause a regeneration of myocardocytes, and will effect a marked improvement in cardiac function for the subject.