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Cell therapy for ischaemic heart disease: focus on the role of resident cardiac stem cells

Netherlands Heart Journal volume 17, pages 199–207 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Myocardial infarction results in loss of cardiomyocytes, scar formation, ventricular remodelling, and eventually heart failure. In recent years, cell therapy has emerged as a potential new strategy for patients with ischaemic heart disease. This includes embryonic and bone marrow derived stem cells. Recent clinical studies showed ostensibly conflicting results of intracoronary infusion of autologous bone marrow derived stem cells in patients with acute or chronic myocardial infarction. Anyway, these results have stimulated additional clinical and pre-clinical studies to further enhance the beneficial effects of stem cell therapy. Recently, the existence of cardiac stem cells that reside in the heart itself was demonstrated. Their discovery has sparked intense hope for myocardial regeneration with cells that are obtained from the heart itself and are thereby inherently programmed to reconstitute cardiac tissue. These cells can be detected by several surface markers (e.g. c-kit, Sca-1, MDR1, Isl-1). Both in vitro and in vivo differentiation into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells has been demonstrated, and animal studies showed promising results on improvement of left ventricular function. This review will discuss current views regarding the feasibility of cardiac repair, and focus on the potential role of the resident cardiac stem and progenitor cells. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:199–207.)

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    S. A. J. Chamuleau

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  2. K. R. Vrijsen
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Correspondence to S. A. J. Chamuleau.

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Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, KY, USA, Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands and Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, KY, USA, Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands and Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, KY, USA

Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

S.A.J. Chamuleau

Department of Cardiology, E03-511, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Chamuleau, S.A.J., Vrijsen, K.R., Rokosh, D.G. et al. Cell therapy for ischaemic heart disease: focus on the role of resident cardiac stem cells. NHJL 17, 199–207 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086247

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086247

  • ischaemic heart disease
  • stem cell therapy
  • regeneration
  • cardiac stem cell