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Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Cells for Myocardial Repair
06:37

Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Cells for Myocardial Repair

Published on: February 3, 2017

Optimizing cardiac repair and regeneration through activation of the endogenous cardiac stem cell compartment

Georgina M Ellison1, Bernardo Nadal-Ginard, Daniele Torella

  • 1Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology Unit (BioStem), RISES, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, UK. G.M.Ellison@ljmu.ac.uk

Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research
|June 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure is rising, but the adult heart has stem cells (eCSCs) that could enable repair. Activating these endogenous cardiac stem cells offers a promising therapeutic strategy for heart regeneration.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) is increasing globally due to aging populations and declining acute coronary syndrome mortality.
  • Effective therapies are crucial for preventing and ameliorating HF.
  • The optimal cell source for cardiac regeneration remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of endogenous cardiac stem/progenitor cells (eCSCs) for cardiac regeneration.
  • To discuss the implications of eCSCs for developing novel HF therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current understanding of adult mammalian heart biology.
  • Analysis of the role of endogenous cardiac stem/progenitor cells (eCSCs) in cardiac repair.

Main Results:

  • The adult mammalian heart contains multipotent cardiac stem/progenitor cells (eCSCs).
  • Cardiomyocytes undergo replacement throughout adulthood, suggesting intrinsic repair capacity.
  • eCSCs offer a potential mechanism for the heart's self-repair when stimulated.

Conclusions:

  • Endogenous cardiac stem/progenitor cells (eCSCs) represent a paradigm shift in cardiovascular biology.
  • Activating eCSCs in situ could lead to an "off-the-shelf" regenerative therapy for heart failure.
  • Further understanding of eCSC biology is needed to optimize clinical applications.

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