Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts
08:12

Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts

Published on: January 24, 2014

The proarrhythmic risk of cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases

Yuan Liu1, Hung-Fat Tse

  • 1Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|November 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Stem cell therapy shows promise for heart repair, but potential proarrhythmic risks from transplanted cells require further investigation. Understanding these risks is crucial for safe cardiovascular disease treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for treating cardiovascular diseases, with various cell types showing potential to improve cardiac function post-injury.
  • Despite therapeutic potential, concerns exist regarding the proarrhythmic risks associated with stem cell transplantation in cardiac applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review theoretical arrhythmogenic mechanisms linked to different stem cell types used in cardiovascular disease treatment.
  • To highlight the limited current data on the proarrhythmic risks of stem cell transplantation and the need for further research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental studies and clinical data on stem cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms contributing to arrhythmogenesis after stem cell transplantation.

Main Results:

  • Various stem cell types (bone marrow-derived, mesenchymal, skeletal myoblasts, cardiac progenitors, embryonic) can enhance cardiac function after myocardial injury.
  • Potential arrhythmogenic mechanisms include immature electrical phenotypes, poor cell coupling, and cardiac nerve sprouting.

Conclusions:

  • While stem cell therapy offers therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular conditions, potential proarrhythmic risks must be carefully considered.
  • Further experimental and clinical investigations are essential to fully understand and mitigate the arrhythmogenic potential of stem cell transplantation.

More Related Videos

Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Cells for Myocardial Repair06:37

Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Cells for Myocardial Repair

Published on: February 3, 2017

Electrophysiological Analysis of human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) Using Multi-electrode Arrays (MEAs)11:13

Electrophysiological Analysis of human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) Using Multi-electrode Arrays (MEAs)

Published on: May 12, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias01:28

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm01:29

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias01:25

Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmia management involves a multifaceted approach, incorporating pharmacological treatments, medical procedures, surgical interventions, lifestyle modifications, and patient education.Pharmacological ManagementAntiarrhythmic Drugs:Class I (Sodium Channel Blockers): This class includes quinidine and procainamide, which reduce the speed of impulse conduction in the heart, stabilize the cardiac membrane, and control arrhythmias. Quinidine and procainamide are Class IA agents that prolong the...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...