Role of interleukin-7 in fusion of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with cardiomyocytes in vitro and improvement of cardiac function in vivo.

Interleukin-7 is able to enhance the fusogenic properties of MSCs and improve cardiac function. This improvement may be attributed to the supportive action of IL-7 on cell proliferation and cell survival contributing to the regeneration of damaged myocardium.