Methods for Regenerating Defective or Absent Myocardium

Abstract

A method for treating damaged or diseased mammalian tissue that includes the steps of (i) providing a sheet structure formed from acellular dermal mammalian tissue that includes extracellular matrix (ECM) and a supplemental bioactive component, such as a nucleic acid, and/or a cell, and (ii) delivering the sheet structure to the damaged or diseased mammalian tissue, wherein the sheet structure induces angiogenesis and, thereby, regeneration of new mammalian tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for regenerating damaged or diseased mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet structure comprising acellular dermal mammalian tissue, said acellular dermal mammalian tissue comprising extracellular matrix (ECM),   said ECM comprising collagen type I, collagen type III, proteoglycans, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2),   said acellular dermal mammalian tissue further comprising a supplemental bioactive component comprising an exogenously added cell selected from the group consisting of an embryonic stem cell, a mesenchymal cell, and a hematopoietic stem cell,   said exogenously added cell being linked to said ECM, wherein said exogenously added cell interacts with at least one molecule in said ECM, whereby, when said acellular dermal mammalian tissue is disposed proximate to damaged mammalian tissue, said acellular dermal mammalian tissue induces angiogenesis; and   delivering said sheet structure to said damaged or diseased mammalian tissue, wherein said sheet structure induces regeneration of new mammalian tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said damaged or diseased mammal tissue comprises damaged or diseased cardiovascular tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said exogenously added cell comprises a cell selected from the group consisting of a neonatal cardiomyocyte, a fetal cardiomyocyte and a myofibroblast. 
     
     
         4 . A method for regenerating damaged or diseased mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet structure comprising acellular dermal mammalian tissue, said acellular dermal mammalian tissue comprising extracellular matrix (ECM),   said ECM comprising collagen type I, collagen type III, proteoglycans, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2),   said acellular dermal mammalian tissue further comprising a supplemental bioactive component comprising an exogenously added nucleic acid, said exogenously added nucleic acid being linked to said ECM, wherein said exogenously added nucleic acid interacts with said ECM, whereby, when said acellular dermal mammalian tissue is disposed proximate to damaged mammalian tissue, said acellular dermal mammalian tissue induces angiogenesis; and   delivering said sheet structure to said damaged or diseased mammalian tissue, wherein said sheet structure induces regeneration of new mammalian tissue.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said damaged or diseased mammal tissue comprises damaged or diseased cardiovascular tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said exogenously added cell comprises a cell selected from the group consisting of an embryonic stem cell, a mesenchymal cell, a hematopoietic stem cell, a neonatal cardiomyocyte, a fetal cardiomyocyte and a myofibroblast. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said exogenously added nucleic acid comprises DNA. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said exogenously added nucleic acid comprises cDNA. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said exogenously added nucleic acid comprises RNA. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said RNA comprises mRNA. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said RNA comprises tRNA. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said RNA comprises rRNA. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said RNA comprises synthetic RNA.