The developing role of Neuregulin1 in cardiac regenerative stem cell therapy

Myocardial infarction, heart failure, and chronic ischemic heart disease account for the majority of the cardiovascular burden. The current treatment strategies focus on limiting the progression of disease and preserving cardiac myocardium. The goal of stem cell therapy, on the other hand, is to reverse or replace damaged cardiac tissue. Over the past two decades many studies have been conducted to understand stem cell performance, survival, and the potential for cardiac repair. Neuregulin1, an epidermal growth factor family member, promotes embryonic stem cell differentiation into the cardiac lineage and improves survival in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell and embryonic endothelial progenitor cells. Current clinical trials are actively pursuing Neuregulin1's therapeutic potential in the areas of heart failure and cardiac ischemia. It is the intent of this paper to review the current knowledge of Neuregulin1 in stem cell biology and discuss the potential of using Neuregulin1 to improve stem cell therapy for cardiac repair.