Overexpression of phosphoinositide-3-kinase class II alpha enhances mesenchymal stem cell survival in infarcted myocardium

► To enhance the cell survival of MSCs in ischemic myocardium, MSCs were genetically engineered to overexpress phosphoinositide-3-kinase class II alpha (PI3K-C2α). ► PI3K-C2α increased the cell viability and the levels of survival-related phosphorylation of MSCs. ► The level of apoptotic proteins downregulated and the number of PI positive cells decreased in PI3K-C2α-MSCs. ► PI3K-C2α-MSCs were examined in the infarcted heart whether implanted cells have changed morphologically (various staining) and functionally (millar catheterization).