# Macrophages as effectors of cell therapy for heart failure

> **NIH NIH R01** · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · 2023 · $425,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Novel approaches to reduce infarct size (IS) have stalled in translation. Given that clinical treatment of acute
myocardial infarction (AMI) is dominated by a rush to open the infarct-related artery, adjunctive therapies which
work after reperfusion are highly desirable. Here I propose to investigate the mechanism of cellular
postconditioning: cell therapy delivered 20 mins post-reperfusion can reduce the extent of lethal injury, improve
functional recovery, and attenuate the progression toward heart failure (HF). The timing is compatible with
standard clinical practice in that the decision to treat can be delayed until after the artery has been opened, if an
efficacious off-the-shelf product is available. Allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are available for
immediate use and are in phase 2 clinical testing for chronic MI. Preliminary data from rats show that CDCs, and
their secreted exosomes (CDCexo), are cardioprotective when given with a reasonable delay after reflow in AMI.
I examined 48 hr and 2 wk endpoints to focus on the acute and chronic benefits of cardioprotection, respectively.
To determine the optimal treatment paradigm, I varied systematically the interval between reperfusion and
delivery of CDCs or CDCexo. Twenty mins after a 45-min ischemic episode, I saw the greatest decreases of IS,
and the best improvements in cardiac function. In published work, I found that macrophages (Mϕ) are essential
effectors of cellular postconditioning; their depletion abrogates cellular postconditioning. Conversely, adoptive
transfer of CDC- or CDCexo-primed Mϕ is cardioprotective. The major mechanistic objective here is to understand
how exosome-mediated changes in Mϕ lead to acute cardioprotection (days after MI) and long-term protection
against HF (weeks after MI). Specifically, I will test the concept that CDCexo-primed Mϕ exhibit enhanced
efferocytosis (the ability to scavenge toxic cellular debris), thereby improving recovery and preventing
progression toward HF. The focus here is on cardioprotection (prevention of cardiomyocyte death), rather than
regeneration, and the mechanism of CDC- and CDCexo-mediated enhanced efferocytosis. Mice will be used for
all our mechanistic studies. The role of efferocytosis will be probed both by novel in vitro co-culture assays of
macrophages, neutrophils, and stressed cardiomyocytes, as well as by in vivo experiments in transgenic mice
with MI to quantify and determine the mechanism of CDCexo-mediated efferocytosis. This work has the potential
to elucidate the cardioprotective mechanisms of cell therapy that prevent progression to HF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10569536
- **Project number:** 5R01HL142579-05
- **Recipient organization:** CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Ahmed Ibrahim
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $425,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10569536

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10569536, Macrophages as effectors of cell therapy for heart failure (5R01HL142579-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10569536. Licensed CC0.

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