Anti-apoptotic properties in bone marrow cell, IL-15, explored in cardiomyocyte recovery

Effective therapies targeting repair of myocardial scarring and restoration of contractile ability have been explored but not perfected using cell therapy. During myocardial infarction (MI), large quantities of cardiomyocytes die due to lack of oxygen and nutrient rich blood, resulting in a myocardial scar. Bone marrow stem cells (BM) and their extracts have been shown to reduce infarct size and increase heart function in live mice studies. However, the mechanisms of this benefit are poorly understood. Identification of cellular factors present in BM extracts with anti-apoptotic and cardio-protective properties are of key interest in the search for effective clinical therapies. We hypothesize that IL-15, which is found in the BM extract, has cardioprotective properties that will rescue cardiomyocytes from hypoxic injury. We found that IL-15 can promote cell recovery after MI in two cardiomyocyte cell lines, and have identified the presence of endogenous IL-15, along with receptors that mediate signaling for anti-apoptosis. This novel therapy has been found effective in in vitro experiments and will be reintroduced into the in vivo model. Data generated has important implications in the development of new regenerative therapies in MI patients.