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Published on: June 3, 2018
Rejuvenating the senescent heart
Nathalie Nguyen1, Mark A Sussman
1Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
Insights
Aging impairs cardiac stem cells, challenging their use in heart failure therapy. Strategies like genetic modification and novel cell delivery aim to rejuvenate these cells for improved cardiac repair.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) were initially thought to be resistant to aging.
- Emerging evidence shows that CSC properties are significantly altered with age.
- This age-related decline impacts their therapeutic potential for heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of the cardiac stem cell field, focusing on the impact of aging.
- To explore strategies for rejuvenating aging cardiac stem cells and the senescent heart.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on cardiac stem cells and aging.
- Analysis of strategies for enhancing aged CSC function.
- Discussion of novel cell-based therapies and environmental modifications.
Main Results:
- Cardiac stem cells, like other stem cells, are susceptible to aging effects.
- Age-related changes in CSCs necessitate new therapeutic approaches.
- Autologous stem cell-based therapy for heart failure requires improved strategies to overcome aging limitations.
Conclusions:
- Genetic modification of adult human cardiac progenitor cells is a promising strategy.
- Next-generation stem cell delivery systems, including CardioChimeras and CardioClusters, offer potential benefits.
- Improving the myocardial environment with rejuvenating factors is crucial for effective cardiac repair.
Purpose Of Review:
The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the cardiac stem cell field with an emphasis on aging and to suggest some relevant strategies directed toward rejuvenation of the senescent heart.
Recent Findings:
Stem cells were long considered as a fountain of youth and were assumed to be equipped against any form of aging effect. However, it is now clear that stem cells suffer the consequences of aging as well. With the discovery that cardiac stem cells reside in the heart comes the question whether these cells are also impaired upon aging. As cardiac stem cell properties are also altered with age, autologous stem cell-based therapy to treat heart failure will benefit from new improved strategies.
Summary:
With the goal to improve stem cell properties that are impaired upon aging, some strategies are highlighted. Genetic modification of adult human cardiac progenitor cells prior to autologous stem cell-based therapy, delivery of the next generation of stem cells such as CardioChimeras and CardioClusters, and improvement of the myocardial environment with rejuvenating factors constitute some of the possibilities and are discussed in more detail in this review.
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