Homing of intravenously infused embryonic stem cell-derived cells to injured hearts after myocardial infarction

Our data demonstrate that intravenously infused embryonic stem cell-derived cells homed to the infarcted heart, improved cardiac function, and enhanced regional blood flow at 6 weeks after myocardial infarction. The in vitro migration assay suggested that such a homing mechanism could be associated with locally released cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α, that are upregulated in the setting of acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.