Figure 4
Cardiac magnetic resonance image (MRI) and manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance image (MEMRI) to evaluate cardiac function, left ventricular (LV) dimension, LV mass, and myocardial viability. (A) Representative cardiac MRI at end-diastolic and end-systolic phases for cell sheet-treated (n = 15), untreated control (n = 23), and sham control (n = 20) groups. Examinations were performed 8 weeks after myocardial infarction. (B) Representative MEMRI for cell sheet-treated (n = 15), untreated control (n = 23), and sham control (n = 20) groups. Examinations were performed 8 weeks after myocardial infarction. Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced MRI to assess cell engraftment of transplanted donor cells. (C) Representative hypointense lesions of iron-labeled cell sheet transplantation site at 0 (baseline), 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 d after treatment. Short-axis magnetic resonance imaging showing hypointense lesions (white arrow) caused by the transplanted cell sheet adjacent to the anterior surface of the left ventricle. (D) Table of longitudinal change of cell engraftment ratio following cell-sheet transplantation. In the period of 7 d after cell-sheet transplantation, the cell engraftment ratio was maintained as high as 92.4% of baseline. Next, regression of cell engraftment was found, and then the ratio decreased to 72.5% of baseline at 14 d after the treatment. During the period of 14 to 42 d, this ratio was maintained at approximately 70% of the baseline. The cell engraftment ratio at 56 d was still as high as 56.3% of baseline.
