| abstract |
The invention provides methods for establishing electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes and recombinant cells which have been genetically engineered to express a gap junction protein, e.g., a connexin protein such as connexin 43 (Cx43) protein. The invention is based on the discovery that genetic modification of skeletal muscle cells to express a recombinant connexin, enables the genetically modified cells to establish electrocommunication with cardiac cells via gap junctions. The recombinant connexin expressing cells can be used for repair of cardiac tissue and for treatment of cardiac disease by transplantation into cardiac tissue. |