Three-dimensional fibroblast cultures stimulate improved ventricular performance in chronically ischemic canine hearts

The current study's purpose was to evaluate the safety and biological effect of a scaffold-based three-dimensional human dermal fibroblast culture (3DFC, also known as Anginera™) to treat chronically ischemic canine hearts. It was hypothesized that treatment with 3DFC would be safe and significantly improve ventricular performance and wall motion. In this study, chronic myocardial ischemia was induced in 40 animals through the surgical placement of an ameroid constrictor. Approximately 30 days after ameroid placement, animals were randomized into four test groups: (1) sham treatment, (2) one unit of acellular 3DFC, (3) one unit of viable 3DFC, and (4) three units of viable 3DFC. Animals were necropsied 30 or 90 days after treatment. Evaluation of the safety endpoint demonstrated the safety of 3DFC at all dosing levels and at both time points. Additionally, parameters of cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end systolic volume index, and systolic wall thickening support the conclusions that 3DFC stimulates a positive biologic effect on ischemic canine hearts. Further, these data support the conclusion that treatment with viable 3DFC improves ventricular performance and ventricular wall motion in chronically ischemic canine hearts 30 days after treatment.