Is Stem Cell Therapy an Answer to Heart Failure: A Literature Search

Abstract

The heart is one of the most industrious organs in the human body. It starts beating in the first few weeks of embryonic life and keeps pumping blood till death. This organ can host a range of diseases as well. Some can hamper the vasculature, while others can affect its electrical activity, the heart valves, etc. All these conditions can lead to end-stage failure where it can no longer meet the requirements of the body's milieu. This imbalance between supply and demand leads to an array of symptoms. Medical management can reduce these clinical effects and possibly prolong the life expectancy in such patients. However, prescription medications can also have their own adverse effects. This necessitates that each line of treatment should be assessed on a risk vs benefit basis. The conventional approach has been to try and slow down the progression of heart failure (HF). However, the inception of stem cells in the management of HF has the potential for reversal of this pathology. Keeping this in view, many studies and trials are under process. To turn the clock back on the HF, before complications set in or get out of control, is the main focus of the time. This article attempts to evaluate various studies about stem cell therapy (SCT) and highlight the important aspects of this novel modality in changing patients' lives.

Zebrafish cardiac regeneration—looking beyond cardiomyocytes to a complex microenvironment

“…These therapies, which involve growing vast numbers of cells in vitro (potentially more than the 1 billion CMs that may be lost following MI) and injecting them directly into the injured heart, have shown promise in numerous pre-clinical settings. However, results for this relatively new strategy are often inconsistent and fail to achieve marked improvements in cardiac function (reviewed by Müller et al 2018 ; Tehzeeb et al 2019 ), and studies in animal models have revealed concerning and prevalent side effects including arrhythmias and tachycardia (Shiba et al 2016 ; Liu et al 2018 ; and reviewed by Chen et al 2020 ). These inconsistencies may be partly explained by a recent and important publication from Vagnozzi et al ( 2020 ) which has found that direct chemical stimulation of the innate immune system produces an outcome comparable to treatment with cell therapies previously reported to be reparative in models of cardiac ischaemic injury (Vagnozzi et al 2020 ).…”

3D Bioprinting of Cardiovascular Tissues for In Vivo and In Vitro Applications Using Hybrid Hydrogels Containing Silk Fibroin: State of the Art and Challenges

“…Heart Tissue: Structure, Cells Types, Cell Ratio, 3D Models Developmentally, the heart is the first organ to form in the embryo and it plays a vital role in supplying oxygen and nutrients to the body [8,12]. It is composed of four chambers: two atria, which collect the non-oxygenated blood, and two ventricles, which pump oxygenated blood to all organs and tissues [12,22].…”

“…A heart transplant is the gold-standard treatment for heart failure patients [7,8]. Although the majority of heart transplant patients survive for years, the procedure comes with major risks for the patient, including transplant rejection and other complications, such as vasculopathies, dysfunctions, and infections [7][8][9]. Another issue linked to heart transplantation is the lack of availability of donor hearts.…”

“…Another issue linked to heart transplantation is the lack of availability of donor hearts. Altogether, these complications lead to the search for new alternatives for these patients [8].…”

Can Stem Cells Improve Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Heart Failure? A Literature Review of Skeletal Myoblasts and Bone Marrow-Derived Cells

“…Factors that need to be investigated and have been undergoing research are the type of stem cells used, application of the stem cells, dose, concentration, timing, patient 1 2 population, and adverse outcomes. Safety concerns with regard to stem cell therapy in the myocardium are most related to increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias [5]. While there has been much anticipation for the application of stem cells, research has so far been mixed.…”