Unlocking the Cardioprotective Action of Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Review of the Current Documents

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart failure (HF), myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury (MIRI), and myocardial infarction (MI), are defined as one of the most known causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, responsible for 30% of global death rate. The etiologic factors for CVDs have not been exactly comprehended; however, a number of modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors have been recognized, like smoking, physical activity, and the history of some diseases (e.g., hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity). Although the current therapeutic approaches for these diseases, which are on the basis of conventional pharmacotherapy and surgery, have been largely effective in dwindling mortality and alleviating symptoms, the presence of serious side effects and injury to the different body organs and restricted clinical application are the main barriers of these methods. Therefore, there is an unmet need to recommend alternative and effective strategies with the minimum side effects for CVDs.

Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have opened a new window to patients with diverse health problems. MSCs can be isolated from different sources, for example, adipose tissue, bone marrow, umbilical cord, amniotic membrane, and amniotic fluid, and have reflected remarkable pharmacological and biological abilities. An increasing body of evidence has paid special attention to MSCs derived from the amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid for treating health-threatening conditions, particularly CVDs, in light of their safety and facility in collecting without considerable ethical issues.

This narrative review delves into the cardioprotective potential of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells against the three main cardiovascular disorders with high lethality, including HF, MIRI, and MI, with a mechanistic insight.