Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 17, Issue 30, 2011

During the last 15 years, three pioneer discoveries have changed our common understanding on vascular regeneration, cardiac repair, and cell re-differentiation/programming. In 1997, Asahara et al. [1] discovered the so called “endothelial progenitor cells”. This finding changed the paradigm that during postnatal life vascular remodeling and regeneration exclusively occurs through proliferation and subsequent migration of m Read More

A constantly growing body of research has been performed mainly over the past decade and a half, aiming to facilitate our still limited understanding of the biology and function of various different cell types which collectively have been termed endothelial progenitor cells. This review intends to critically outline aspects of terminology, origin and applicability of the somatic progenitors which are thought to mainta Read More

The introduction of stem cells in cardiology provides new tools in understanding the regenerative processes of the normal and pathologic heart and opens new options for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The feasibility of adult bone marrow autologous and allogenic cell therapy of ischemic cardiomyopathies has been demonstrated in humans. However, many unresolved questions remain to link experimental with c Read More

The field of stem cell research was revolutionized with the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells. By reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells, most ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells are overcome, such that many hopes from the stem cell field now seem a step closer to reality. Several methods and cell sources have been described to create induced pluripotent stem cells and w Read More

Although definition and mechanistic understanding of pro-angiogenic progenitor cells remains unsatisfactory, general agreement highlights their role in regenerative process following tissue injury and ischemia. Furthermore, stem-cell based therapy represents a hot topic of cardiovascular medicine. Recent studies provide new insights on the signalling pathways that modulate stem/progenitor cell mobilization from bone ma Read More

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed countries. This review summarizes current pre-clinical and clinical evidence for the potential role and mechanisms of action of stem and progenitor cells in vascular and cardiac repair and regeneration. Apart from cell transplantation strategies, approaches to maintain stem cell niche function and targeting mobilization/recr Read More

Inflammatory cardiomyopathy is associated with a diffuse inflammation in the heart accompanied with cardiac fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and reduced capillary density. On the other hand, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-apoptotic, and pro-angiogenic features, making them attractive candidates for the treatment of inflammatory cardiomyopathy. The potential of MSC a Read More

Over the last decade, much was learned about the biology of several types of stem and progenitor cells. It has become apparent that various cell sources may have the capacity to promote cardiomyogenesis and new blood vessel formation through different mechanisms, forming the rationale for cell-based therapy in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. After initial clinical studies have provided evidence for safety of ce Read More

Despite timely reperfusion and subsequent optimal postinfarct pharmacotherapy and device-based treatment, the outcome in patients with severe myocardial infarction remains unfavourable. Myocardial salvage is incomplete, resulting in adverse left ventricular remodeling with concomitant morbidity and mortality. The combined risk of recurrent myocardial infarction, death or readmission for heart failure amounts to 25 % w Read More

Diabetic cardiopathy includes a specific cardiomyopathy, which occurs in the absence of coronary heart disease under diabetes mellitus. Hallmarks of diabetic cardiomyopathy are besides others, interstitial inflammation, cardiac oxidative stress, interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, cardiac apoptosis, intramyocardial microangiopathy, endothelial dysfunction, abnormal intracellular Ca2+-handling, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy Read More

More than 10 years ago, the first clinical application of cardiac cell therapy was performed in a patient undergoing coronary bypass grafting (CABG). Ever since, catheter-based cell delivery approaches have dominated the field, but surgical cell therapy continues to provide important information on safety and efficacy of various cell therapy strategies. The open chest offers unrivalled simplicity and precision of intramy Read More