Stem cells as therapy for cardiac disease &#8212; a review

Katarzyna Jezierska-Woźniak; Dorota Mystkowska; Anna Tutas; Marek Kajetan Jurkowski

doi:10.5603/FHC.2011.0004

Vol 49, No 1 (2011)

Review paper

Submitted: 2011-12-19

Published online: 2011-04-19

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Stem cells as therapy for cardiac disease — a review

Katarzyna Jezierska-Woźniak, Dorota Mystkowska, Anna Tutas, Marek Kajetan Jurkowski

DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0004

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(1):13-25.

Vol 49, No 1 (2011)

REVIEW

Submitted: 2011-12-19

Published online: 2011-04-19

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Stem cells represent an enormous chance to rebuild damaged heart tissue. Correct definition of the cardiac progenitors is necessary to understand heart development, and would pave the way for the use of cardiac progenitors in the treatment of heart disease. Identifying, purifying and differentiating native cardiac progenitor cells are indispensable if we are to overcome congenital and adult cardiac diseases. To understand their functions, physiology and action, cells are tested in animal models, and then in clinical trials. But because clinical trials yield variable results, questions about proper cardiac stem cells remain unanswered. Transplanted stem cells release soluble factors, acting in a paracrine fashion, which contributes to cardiac regeneration. Cytokines and growth factors have cytoprotective and neovascularizing functions, and may activate resident cardiac stem cells. Understanding all these mechanisms is crucial to overcoming heart diseases. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 13–25)

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Stem cells represent an enormous chance to rebuild damaged heart tissue. Correct definition of the cardiac progenitors is necessary to understand heart development, and would pave the way for the use of cardiac progenitors in the treatment of heart disease. Identifying, purifying and differentiating native cardiac progenitor cells are indispensable if we are to overcome congenital and adult cardiac diseases. To understand their functions, physiology and action, cells are tested in animal models, and then in clinical trials. But because clinical trials yield variable results, questions about proper cardiac stem cells remain unanswered. Transplanted stem cells release soluble factors, acting in a paracrine fashion, which contributes to cardiac regeneration. Cytokines and growth factors have cytoprotective and neovascularizing functions, and may activate resident cardiac stem cells. Understanding all these mechanisms is crucial to overcoming heart diseases. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 13–25)

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Keywords

cell therapy; stem cells; heart failure; paracrine signaling

About this article

Title

Stem cells as therapy for cardiac disease — a review

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 49, No 1 (2011)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

13-25

Published online

2011-04-19

Page views

2408

Article views/downloads

2613

DOI

10.5603/FHC.2011.0004

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(1):13-25.

Keywords

cell therapy
stem cells
heart failure
paracrine signaling

Authors

Katarzyna Jezierska-Woźniak
Dorota Mystkowska
Anna Tutas
Marek Kajetan Jurkowski