Continuous Engraftment and Differentiation of Male Recipient Y-Chromosome-Positive Cardiomyocytes in Donor Female Human Heart Transplants

The phenotypic transformation in this human chronic heart injury model is the result of transdifferentiation of male stem cells (atrial or circulating cells) into new cardiomyocytes. Immunologic injury predicts recipient cardiomyocyte engraftment and may be one of the mobilizing stimuli.