# Hypo-immunogenic cardiomyocytes for myocardial repair

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $807,471

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Heart disease is the number one killer in the Western world. Although heart transplant may be effective in
treating heart failure, today’s most urgent problem in transplantation is the lack of suitable donor organs and
tissues. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) constitute a potential source of autologous patient-specific
cardiomyocytes for cardiac repair, providing a major benefit over other sources of cells in terms of immune
rejection. However, autologous transplantation has substantial challenges related to manufacturing and
regulation. Although allogeneic transplantation is a promising alternative strategy, few immunological strategies
have been proposed to overcome the immunological hurdle. We created a hypo-immunogenic mouse and a
human hypo-iPSC line that both evade immune rejection, and we have successfully established their
differentiation into mouse cardiomyocytes (mCMs) and human cardiac cells (hCCs). The proposed study is
divided into three components to fully demonstrate the hypo-immunogenicity of our generated iPSCs. The first
and second aims of this study is focused on studying the immune activation of the host receiving allogeneic
mCMs/hypo-mCMs or allogeneic hCCs/hypo-hCCs, respectively, and on evaluation of the survival of implanted
cells over time. State-of-the art immunological and imaging techniques will be utilized to demonstrate immune
activation and cell survival. The third aim will investigate the ability of hypo-hCCs to increase remuscularization
of the heart and to augment the functional performance of failing myocardium using a non-human primate
model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and intra-myocardial delivery of hCCs over a three-month period.
Successful completion of this study will provide insight into overcoming the immunobiological barrier in iPSC
applications and the potential applicability of the hypo-hCCs in supporting functional recovery of failing
myocardium.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10210427
- **Project number:** 5R01HL140236-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Tobias Deuse
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $807,471
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10210427

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10210427, Hypo-immunogenic cardiomyocytes for myocardial repair (5R01HL140236-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10210427. Licensed CC0.

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