Platelet-derived growth factor protection of cardiac myocardium

Patent Number: 7,514,261

Bone marrow has been conventionally used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for bone marrow transplant.  More recently it has been shown that bone marrow can differentiate (either its hematopoietic or mesenchymal components) into various tissues including neural, hepatic and pancreatic.

The current patent covers the differentiation of bone marrow into cardiac myocytes through culture with the cytokines PDGF AB, VEGF, and heparin FGF.

The one independent claim of the patent is:

" A culture comprising isolated bone marrow cells, PDGF AB, VEGF, heparin FGF and cardiac myocytes derived therefrom, wherein the concentrations of PDGF, VEGF and FGF in the culture are sufficient to generate myocytes from the bone marrow cells. " 

It will be interesting to see if these in vitro generated cardiomyocytes will still have the same homing ability to migrate to injured myocardium as undifferentiated cells.  This question is asked because under normal situations bone marrow cells are mobilized post-infarct.

View this patent on the USPTO website.