Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stem cell applicable to regenerative therapeutic method, and to provide a technique to carry out regenerative therapy using the cell. A collected cardiac tissue fragment is enzymatically treated to prepare a cell suspension. Then using the cell suspension, following steps are carried out: (1) separation of cells by the density gradient method, (2) suspension-culture in a culture medium containing fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor and (3) selection and separation of cells forming a floating sphere to obtain pluripotent stem cells. Thus-obtained pluripotent stem cells are used to carry out regenerative therapy.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stem cell applicable to regenerative therapeutic method, and to provide a technique to carry out regenerative therapy using the cell. A collected cardiac tissue fragment is enzymatically treated to prepare a cell suspension. Then using the cell suspension, following steps are carried out: (1) separation of cells by the density gradient method, (2) suspension-culture in a culture medium containing fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor and (3) selection and separation of cells forming a floating sphere to obtain pluripotent stem cells. Thus-obtained pluripotent stem cells are used to carry out regenerative therapy.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to establish a cell transplantation method which can markedly improve the survival of grafted pluripotent stem cells and the efficiency of cardiomyocyte regeneration in cell therapy using pluripotent stem cells derived from heart tissue and can treat heart disease further effectively. Specifically, according to the present invention, enhancement in the survival of grafted pluripotent stem cells and significant improvement in the efficiency of cardiomyocyte regeneration are achieved by using, in combination, pluripotent stem cells derived from heart tissue and a hydrogel containing a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in cell therapy for heart disease.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to establish a cell transplantation method which can markedly improve the survival of grafted pluripotent stem cells and the efficiency of cardiomyocyte regeneration in cell therapy using pluripotent stem cells derived from heart tissue and can treat heart disease further effectively. Specifically, according to the present invention, enhancement in the survival of grafted pluripotent stem cells and significant improvement in the efficiency of cardiomyocyte regeneration are achieved by using, in combination, pluripotent stem cells derived from heart tissue and a hydrogel containing a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in cell therapy for heart disease.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stem cell applicable to regenerative therapeutic method, and to provide a technique to carry out regenerative therapy using the cell. A collected cardiac tissue fragment is enzymatically treated to prepare a cell suspension. Then using the cell suspension, following steps are carried out: (1) separation of cells by the density gradient method, (2) suspension-culture in a culture medium containing fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor and (3) selection and separation of cells forming a floating sphere to obtain pluripotent stem cells. Thus-obtained pluripotent stem cells are used to carry out regenerative therapy.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which can isolate pluripotent stem cells at high purity capable of differentiation into at least a myocardial cell to regenerate the cardiac muscle. The pluripotent stem cells at high purity capable of differentiation into at least a myocardial cell to regenerate the cardiac muscle can be isolated through the following steps: (i) collecting a skeletal muscle tissue from a mammal and enzymatically treating the obtained skeletal muscle tissue to prepare a skeletal muscle tissue-derived cell; (ii) culturing the obtained skeletal muscle tissue-derived cell in a culture medium containing an epidermal growth factor and a fibroblast growth factor; (iii) selecting and separating a colony that is floating in the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention embodies methods of modulating telomere repeat-binding factor-2 (TRF2) or cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) to enhance the survival of a cell. More particularly, the modulators can be used to treat cardiovascular disease by improving the growth and survival of cardiomyocytes.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to compositions and methods of using the same to cardiovascular disease. The compositions of the present invention are cardiac stem cells that are c-kitneg/CD31+/CD38+ and express telomerase reverse transcriptase.