Co-cultured the MSCs and cardiomyocytes can promote the growth of cardiomyocytes.

Recently, the incidence of myocardial infarction has been increasing annually. Now cell therapy is a major new strategy in the treatment of this public health challenge. Most recently, evidences showed that MSCs can reduce the area of infarction and improve the heart function. In our study we found that MSCs could promote cardiomyocytes proliferation, inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and promote cardiomyocytes autophagy function. These functions could be a therapeutic effect on myocardial infarction. At the same time, we first revealed that MSCs may achieve these functions by the activation of VEGF signaling pathways.