A new source of stem cells was discovered and these new stem cells can become heart cells to repair the heart. These new stem cells are called human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal (undifferentiated) cells or hAMCs. The best part about hAMCs is their noncontroversial origins. Researchers in Japan obtained hAMCs from the amniotic membrane, the inner lining of the sac in which an embryo develops. The amniotic membrane is medical waste and can be collected before or after delivery.

Experimentation with rats has yielded many positive results. Rats that had a heart attack were injected with hAMCs two weeks after the heart attack showed a 34% to 39% improved function. There was also a 13% to 18% decreased scarred area of rat hearts when injected after a heart attack. The hAMCs survived for four weeks without being rejected by the rat heart, even without the use immunosuppressive medications.

Despite all the great results with hAMCs, there is still quite a while before testing hAMCs on humans. The next steps are to start testing hAMCs on larger animals and to increase the amount of heart cells created by hAMCs.

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