Nestin-expressing neural stem cells identified in the scar following myocardial infarction

Nerve fiber innervation of the scar following myocardial damage may have occurred either via the growth of pre‐existing fibers and/or the mobilization of neural stem cells. The present study examined whether neural stem cells were recruited to the infarct region of the rat heart following coronary artery ligation. The neural stem cell marker nestin was detected in the infarct region of 1‐week post‐myocardial infarct (MI) male rats and cultured scar‐derived neural‐like cells. By contrast, nestin staining was undetected in either scar myofibroblasts or cardiac myocytes residing in the non‐infarcted left ventricle. Reactive astrocytes were isolated from the infarct region and characterized by the co‐expression of nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin. Specific staining of oligodendrocytes and neurons was also detected in the infarct region and cultured scar‐derived neural‐like cells. Furthermore, neurofilament‐M positive fibers were identified in the scar and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was observed in peripherin‐positive neurons. Neurite formation was induced in PC12 cells treated with the conditioned‐media of primary passage scar‐derived cells, highlighting the synthesis and secretion of neurotrophic factors. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor were detected in myofibroblasts and neural cells, and both cell types expressed the NGF receptors trkA and p75. These data highlight the novel observation that neural stem cells were recruited to the infarct region of the damaged rat heart and may contribute in part to nerve fiber growth and subsequent innervation of the scar. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.