Tania Fuentes

Abstract

Transplantation of adult endogenous cardiovascular progenitor cells for heart repair results in some clinical benefit, however these stem cells lack the regenerative capacity unique to neonatal cardiovascular stem cells. The goal of this work was to identify mechanisms that contribute to the decline of cardiac stem cell regenerative ability with age and investigate novel therapeutic strategies to improve cardiac stem cell function. When comparing neonatal and adult cardiovascular stem cell clones, both cell types were capable of cardiomyogenic differentiation. However, the expression levels of forty-one microRNAs were significantly altered with age. Expression differences were correlated with reduced proliferation and a limited capacity to invade in response to growth factor stimulation in adult progenitors. This information can be utilized to develop novel therapeutics and improve outcomes after stem cell-based treatment for heart failure.

LLU Discipline

Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

Department

Basic Sciences

School

School of Medicine

First Advisor

Kearns-Jonker, Mary

Second Advisor

Fletcher, Hansel

Third Advisor

Obenaus, Andre

Fourth Advisor

Soto-Wegner, Ubaldo

Fifth Advisor

Talbot, Prudence

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2015

Date (Title Page)

6-2015

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Heart - Physiology; Heart Ventricles; Ventricular Remodeling; Stem Cells; Human Embryonic Stem Cells; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Cell aging; Subcellular Fractions; Myocardial Infarction; Cardiac Myosins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase; DNA-Binding Proteins; von Willebrand Factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Gene Expression Regulation

Subject - Local

Adult Endogenous Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells; Cell Regenerative Capacity; Cell aging; Neonatal Cardiovascular Stem Cells; Cardiomyogenic Differentiation;

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

144

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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