Coculture with lin-/c-kit+ Stem Cells leads to a Paracrine Mediated Inhibition of Apoptosis in Cardiomyocytes

Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that coculture of SC with NRVCM leads to an upregulation of antiapoptotic genes and a paracrine-mediated increase in the phosphorylation of AKT. This results in less apoptotis in cocultured NRVCM. We therefore conclude, that cell-cell interactions lead to a modified gene expression in SC that may in part explain the cardioprotective effects of stem cell therapy.