Preconditioning Your Way to Better Stem Cells

When stem cells are implanted into injured tissues, they often face a hostile environment that is inimical to their survival. A stroke, for example, can produce brain tissue without ample blood flow, low oxygen levels, and lots of cell debris and inflammation. The same can be said for the heart after a heart attack. If stem cells are going to help anyone we have to find a way for them to survive.

Conditioning Stem Cells to Survive in the Heart

After a heart attack, the heart is a very inhospitable place for implanted stem cells. These cells have to deal with low oxygen levels, marauding white blood cells, toxins released from dead or nearly dead cells, and other nasty things.

Getting cells to survive in this place is essential if the cells are going to provide any healing to he heart. Fortunately, a Chinese group has discovered that…