Nephrol Dial Transplant (2004) 19: 1673-1677
Nephrol Dial Transplant Vol. 19 No. 7 © ERA-EDTA 2004; all rights reserved
Editorial Comment
Stem cell therapy of cardiac disease: an update
Molecular Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr Stefanie Dimmeler, Molecular Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Frankfurt, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany. Email: Dimmeler@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Keywords: angiogenesis; cardiac repair; perfusion; stem cells
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Introduction |
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Despite the development of therapeutic strategies and electrophysiological and surgical treatment regimens, heart failure remains one of the major causes of mortality in the Western world. Heart failure can develop as a consequence of myocardial infarction despite revascularization procedures. Ischaemia-induced death of cardiac myocytes results in scar formation and reduced contractility of the ventricle. Various experimental studies provided evidence that the infusion or injection of stem or progenitor cells may reduce scar formation and fibrosis. Moreover, predominantly bone marrow-derived cells were shown to augment blood flow, thereby providing a novel therapeutic option for the prevention and/or treatment of heart failure.
This review article intends to summarize the current experimental and clinical evidence for a potential role for stem cells in cardiac regeneration.
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Which cells? |
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In animal models, several stem and progenitor cells showed a potential to improve cardiac regeneration (Figure 1). Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have the capacity to
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Functions of stem/progenitor cells to improve cardiac function |
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Differentiation and/or fusion
Improvement of neovascularization
Paracrine effects
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Results from clinical studies |
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