Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in the failing heart: past, present, and future
Catherine Karbasiafshar1, Frank W Sellke1,2, M Ruhul Abid1,2
1Cardiovascular Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
Insights
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising alternative to traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatments, especially for patients unsuitable for surgery. Bioengineering EVs may personalize treatments for ischemic heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading global cause of mortality.
- Current treatments like surgery are not viable for all patients due to comorbidities or disease severity.
- Stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as a novel therapeutic avenue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review limitations of past cell-based therapies for CVD.
- To explore recent advancements in extracellular vesicle (EV) research for cardiovascular applications.
- To discuss future challenges and opportunities in EV-based CVD treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vivo and in vitro studies on EVs in cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of omics data related to EV function.
- Discussion of bioengineering strategies for EV personalization.
Main Results:
- Cell-based therapies have limitations for treating CVD patients with comorbidities.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show potential for treating ischemic myocardium.
- Personalized EV content through bioengineering can target specific signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a promising frontier in cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment.
- Overcoming challenges in EV characterization, delivery, and understanding comorbidity effects is crucial.
- Bioengineered EVs hold significant potential for personalized regenerative therapies in cardiology.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. Current treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication, and surgical intervention. However, many patients are unsuitable candidates for surgeries due to comorbidities, diffuse coronary artery disease, or advanced stages of heart failure. The search for new treatment options has recently transitioned from cell-based therapies to stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). A number of challenges remain in the EV field, including the effect of comorbidities, characterization, and delivery. However, recent revolutionary developments and insight into the potential of personalizing EV contents by bioengineering methods to alter specific signaling pathways in the ischemic myocardium hold promise. Here, we discuss the past limitations of cell-based therapies and recent EV studies involving in vivo, in vitro, and omics, and future challenges and opportunities in EV-based treatments in CVD.
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