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Cytokines as therapeutic agents and targets in heart disease
Arita Dubnika1, Martin A C Manoukian2, M Rezaa Mohammadi3
1Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Riga Technical University, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Institute of General Chemical Engineering, Rudolfs Cimdins Riga Biomaterials Innovations and Development Centre, Pulka str. 3/3, Riga, LV-1007, Latvia.
Insights
Cytokine therapies offer a promising noninvasive approach to treating heart disease by promoting myocardial regeneration. Monitoring and targeting specific cytokines are crucial for effective treatment and preventing adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Current heart disease treatments primarily manage symptoms and slow progression, often with side effects.
- Cytokine-based therapies show potential for reducing heart failure and ischemia post-infarction.
- Overexpression of certain cytokines is associated with various heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical studies on cytokine therapies for heart disease.
- To examine cytokines as therapeutic agents and targets in cardiovascular treatment.
- To understand the role of cytokines in the development of heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical studies involving cytokine-based interventions.
- Analysis of data on cytokine expression in heart disease.
- Synthesis of research on cytokine mechanisms in myocardial regeneration and pathology.
Main Results:
- Cytokine therapies can stimulate endothelial and stem cell proliferation and mobilization to ischemic tissues.
- Mobilized cells contribute to the regeneration of heart muscle.
- Clinical studies highlight both therapeutic potential and risks associated with cytokine manipulation.
Conclusions:
- Cytokine therapies represent a promising avenue for noninvasive heart disease treatment.
- Targeting and monitoring cytokines are essential for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and patient safety.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex role of cytokines in cardiovascular health and disease.
Abstract:
Cytokine therapies have emerged during the past decade as promising noninvasive treatments for heart disease. In general, current drug treatments are directed towards symptom control and prevention of disease progression; however, many agents also produce cause side effects that alter quality of life. Cytokine based therapies have the potential to reduce post-infarct heart failure and chronic ischemia by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of endothelial cells and bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and mobilizing these cells toward ischemic tissue. In turn, these mobilized cell populations contribute to myocardial regeneration. In contrast, over-expression of several cytokines has been linked to a variety of heart diseases; thus, therapies targeting and monitoring these cytokines are of great interest. Here we summarize results from clinical studies on cytokines as therapeutic agents or therapeutic targets in the treatment for heart disease as well as cytokines involved in the evolution of heart disease.
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