Cardiac stem cells and methods of identifying and using the same

Abstract

Methods of isolating cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are provided. Compositions comprising cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are also provided. Methods of using cardiac cells, cardiac progenitor cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue, are provided. Methods of identifying the prognosis of patients treated for heart disease and/or methods of predicting the regeneration of cardiac cells in a subject are also provided.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A method of isolating regenerative cardiomyocytes from a population of mature cardiomyocytes, the method comprising:
 identifying the regenerative cardiomyocytes in the population as cells comprising phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein; and   isolating the identified regenerative cardiomyocytes.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the identifying comprises contacting the population of mature cardiomyocytes with an agent that detects phosphorylated Rb or hyperphosphorylated Rb. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the agent binds to Rb phosphorylated at position Ser 608 of Rb. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising administering the isolated regenerative cardiomyocytes to a subject in need of such administration. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the subject has a heart disease. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein identifying comprises identifying the regenerative cardiomyocytes using fluorescence assisted cell sorter (FACS), laser scanning cytometry, fluorescent microscopy, RT-PCR, DNA hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization, mass spectroscopy, microarray analysis, immunohistochemistry analysis, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         68 . A method of treating a heart disease in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of isolated regenerative cardiomyocytes, wherein the regenerative cardiomyocytes are isolated according to a method comprising:
 identifying the regenerative cardiomyocytes in a population as cells comprising phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein; and   isolating the identified regenerative cardiomyocytes.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is thromboembolism (blood clot), sickle cell disease, localized pressure to extremities to the body, tumors, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is cardiovascular disease. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is cardiomyopathy. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is myocardial stunning. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is tachycardia. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is ischemia-reperfusion. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is intermittent claudication. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is peripheral vascular disease. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is acute renal failure. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is stroke. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is hypotension. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the heart disease is embolism.