Cardiac Progenitor Cells in Myocardial Infarction Wound Healing: A Critical Review

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality as the loss of functional myocardium drives progressive ventricular remodeling and subsequent heart failure. Medical management has significantly improved outcomes for acute myocardial infarction (MI); however, improved strategies are needed to regenerate functional myocardium and prevent the progression to heart failure. Cytotherapy using cardiac progenitor cells (PCs) to regenerate functional myocardium holds tremendous potential; however, a better understanding of PC biology is needed.

Reports of cardiac regeneration in lower animals have been reported in the last decade. However, just recently, two separate models of mammalian cardiac regeneration have been published and offer potential to better define PC biology, including PC recruitment, differentiation, proliferation, and integration.

Numerous clinical trials have been completed or are ongoing to evaluate possible cytotherapy options in the treatment of acute and chronic ischemic cardiac disease. To date, results have demonstrated improvements in cardiac function as a result of paracrine effects of cytotherapy, but regeneration of functional myocardium has yet to be observed.

Future translation of cardiac PC biology from these models is necessary to promote regenerative cardiac healing following MI and to prevent the progression to heart failure following the loss of functional myocardium. Knowledge gained from mammalian models of cardiac regeneration will allow for the development of therapeutic regimens in the treatment of heart failure.