Cardiac Cell Therapy: Insights into the Mechanisms of Tissue Repair

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 26;22(3):1201. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031201.

Abstract

Stem cell-based cardiac therapies have been extensively studied in recent years. However, the efficacy of cell delivery, engraftment, and differentiation post-transplant remain continuous challenges and represent opportunities to further refine our current strategies. Despite limited long-term cardiac retention, stem cell treatment leads to sustained cardiac benefit following myocardial infarction (MI). This review summarizes the current knowledge on stem cell based cardiac immunomodulation by highlighting the cellular and molecular mechanisms of different immune responses to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretory factors. This review also addresses the clinical evidence in the field.

Keywords: heart failure; inflammation; mesenchymal stem cells; myocardial infarction; stem cell therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy* / adverse effects
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy* / methods
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis
  • Heart Diseases / etiology
  • Heart Diseases / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Myoblasts, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myoblasts, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Regeneration
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing