Cell therapies for therapeutic angiogenesis: back to the bench

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were discovered over a decade ago, sparking enthusiasm for cell-based therapies in therapeutic angiogenesis and cardiovascular regeneration.
• Numerous candidate cell types have since been proposed, but pre-clinical and clinical studies have yielded conflicting results, creating controversy in the field.
• A lack of standardized cellular definitions and insufficient functional characterization of stem/progenitor cells in angiogenesis contribute to the current challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a translationally relevant overview of the vascular biology of candidate stem/progenitor cells.
• To address the scientific imperative for a better understanding of cell biology in translating cell therapy to clinical application.
• To clarify the role of these cells in therapeutic angiogenesis and cardiovascular regeneration.

Main Methods:

• This review synthesizes existing literature on endothelial progenitor cells and other candidate stem/progenitor cells.
• It focuses on their biological characteristics relevant to neovascularization and therapeutic potential.
• The review critically evaluates pre-clinical and clinical data, highlighting key issues and knowledge gaps.

Main Results:

• Conflicting results from therapeutic angiogenesis studies underscore the need for rigorous evaluation of cell types.
• Inconsistent findings are partly due to a lack of uniform cell definitions and functional characterization.
• Understanding the specific vascular biology of candidate cells is crucial for successful clinical translation.

Conclusions:

• Further research is essential to define and functionally characterize stem/progenitor cells for reliable therapeutic angiogenesis.
• A deeper understanding of cell biology will improve the translation of cell therapies from bench to bedside.
• Standardized approaches are needed to resolve controversies and advance cell-based cardiovascular regeneration.