Current Status of Angiogenic Cell Therapy and Related Strategies Applied in Critical Limb Ischemia

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), often caused by atherosclerosis.
• Current revascularization strategies have limited eligibility (<45%) due to comorbidities, frequently leading to amputation.
• Angiogenic cell therapy offers a promising alternative for CLI patients ineligible for surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent studies on angiogenic cell therapies for critical limb ischemia (CLI).
• To explore preclinical models and clinical trials of stem cell therapy in CLI.
• To discuss emerging cell-free therapeutic alternatives like secretomes, exosomes, and microRNA.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical animal models investigating cell types for CLI treatment.
• Analysis of ongoing and completed clinical trials evaluating cell therapies in CLI patients.
• Examination of literature on cell-free therapeutic approaches (secretomes, exosomes, microRNA) for CLI.

Main Results:

• Stem cell therapies demonstrate potential for enhancing revascularization in CLI models.
• Clinical trials are evaluating the efficacy of various cell types for improving blood flow and tissue perfusion.
• Emerging research highlights the therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived products and genetic materials.

Conclusions:

• Angiogenic cell therapy is a viable and promising approach for CLI patients.
• Further research and clinical trials are essential to optimize cell-based treatments for CLI.
• Cell-free therapeutic strategies represent a novel frontier in managing CLI.