Stem cell mediated cardiovascular repair

Abstract

Recent increase in the interest in stem and progenitor cells may be attributed to their behavioural characteristics. A consensus has been reached that embryonic or adult stem cells have therapeutic potential. As cardiovascular health issues are still the major culprits in many developed countries, stem and progenitor cell driven approaches may give the clinicians a new arsenal to tackle many significant health issues. However, stem and progenitor cell mediated cardiovascular regeneration can be achieved via complex and dynamic molecular mechanisms involving a variety of cells, growth factors, cytokines, and genes. Functional contributions of transplanted cells on target organs and their survival are still critical problems waiting to be resolved. Moreover, the regeneration of contracting myocardial tissue has controversial results in human trials. Thus, moderately favourable clinical results should be interpreted carefully. Determining the behavioural programs, genetic and transcriptional control of stem cells, mechanisms that determine cell fate, and functional characteristics are the primary targets. In addition, ensuring the long-term follow-up of cells with efficient imaging techniques in human clinical studies may provide a resurgence of the initial enthusiasm, which has faded over time. Here, we provide a brief historical perspective on stem cell driven cardiac regeneration and discuss cardiac and vascular repair in the context of translational science.

Cellular Cardiomyoplasty Using Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

“…Early clinical applications produced highly encouraging results and a list of clinical trials can be found from http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Summaries of clinical trials have been reported in several recent reviews [19,45,54,55,57,[66][67][68][69][70][71][72]. The skeletal muscle stem cells (myoblasts, satellite cells) have been delivered into the myocardium through epicardial, endocardial or transcoronary route in the twelve short-term (one year or less) clinical trials.…”

Emerging Medical Devices for Minimally Invasive Cell Therapy

“…The diseased adult human heart is an ideal candidate for cell therapy owing to its poor regenerative capacity in response to injury. Although the cell type that has greatest potential for cardiovascular regeneration is controversial, 3,12,[13][14][15] the importance of delivery tools and methods is beginning to receive due attention. 16,17 Cellbased therapeutics has been the subject of several clinical trials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including severe coronary ischemia, ischemic heart failure, congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, chronic myocardial ischemia, nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease.…”