Next Generation Sequencing to identify the gene expression profile of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) and c-kitpos cardiac progenitor (c-kitpos CPC) cells derived from adult and young donors

In this study we therefore focused on 2 heart-derived progenitor cell populations that have been recently introduced in clinical translation, autologous c-kitpos–selected CPCs and CDCs. For the first time we compared molecular signatures and proliferation and differentiation characteristics of progenitor cells from young donor hearts (c-kitpos yCPC and yCDC) with cells obtained from adult donors with advanced ischemic disease (c-kitpos aCPC and aCDC). Here we report that culture expanded CDCs derived from adult donors have a distinct transcriptional profile with greater cell cycle activity and superior in vitro paracrine growth factor release compared to yCDCs. The molecular signature of aduIt CDCs favours cardiac repair via pro-angiogenic, cytotrophic and immunomodulatory effects while cardiac transdifferentiation potential is modest and comparable in all progenitor cell populations. Overall design: Comparison of gene expression profile in 2 different cardiac stem cell populations derived from both adult and young donors