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Review
. 2013 Oct-Dec;9(4):187-94.
doi: 10.14797/mdcj-9-4-187.

Stem cell therapy for heart failure

Robert E Michler  1
Affiliations
Review

Stem cell therapy for heart failure

Robert E Michler. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2013 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed the publication of a large number of clinical trials primarily using bone marrow-derived stem cells as the injected cell. These "first-generation" clinical trials have advanced our understanding and shown us that (1) cell therapy is safe, (2) cell therapy has been modestly effective, and (3) in humans, bone marrow-derived stem cells do not transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes or new blood vessels (or at least in sufficient numbers to have any effect). The primary mechanism of action for cell therapy is now believed to be through paracrine effects that include the release of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that inhibit apoptosis and fibrosis, enhance contractility, and activate endogenous regenerative mechanisms through endogenous circulating or site-specific stem cells. The new direction for clinical trials includes the use of stem cells capable of cardiac lineage, such as endogenous cardiac stem cells.

Keywords: heart failure; regenerative medicine; stem cell therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The author has completed and submitted the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal Conflict of Interest Statement and none were reported.

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