Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells Strategy for Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Despite development of medicine, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Over the past 10 years, various stem cells have been utilized in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CVDs. CVDs are characterized by a broad range of pathological reactions including inflammation, necrosis, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy. However, the causes of CVDs are still unclear. While there is a limit to the currently available target-dependent treatments, the therapeutic potential of stem cells is very attractive for the treatment of CVDs because of their paracrine effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and immunomodulatory capacity. Various studies have recently reported increased therapeutic potential of transplantation of microRNA- (miRNA-) overexpressing stem cells or small-molecule-treated cells. In addition to treatment with drugs or overexpressed miRNA in stem cells, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles also have therapeutic potential because they can deliver the stem cell-specific RNA and protein into the host cell, thereby improving cell viability. Here, we reported the state of stem cell-based therapy for the treatment of CVDs and the potential for cell-free based therapy.

The Potentials and Caveats of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapies in the Preterm Infant

“…The central nervous system is the second organ most affected by injury to the preterm infant and therefore has attracted special attention during recent years. Data obtained in preclinical and clinical studies to date suggest a high therapeutic potential of MS-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal complications, and retinopathy of prematurity [ 112 – 114 ] which represent further disease entities with dominating inflammatory properties (reviewed in [ 95 ]). So far, most preclinical studies in the rodent model were performed for brain pathologies of the term newborn infant including hypoxic brain injury following perinatal asphyxia and neonatal stroke.…”

Myocardial reparative functions of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells are enhanced by hypoxia treatment of the cells via transferring microRNA-210 in an nSMase2-dependent way

“…Stem cell transplantation is a promising strategy for myocardial repair that may help promote regeneration and reduce adverse remodelling after myocardial infarction (MI) [1]. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been subject to vigorous preclinical and clinical tests for cardiovascular indications [2,3].…”

Optimization of Timing and Times for Administration of Atorvastatin-Pretreated Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Preclinical Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…Stem cell‐based therapy has been recognized as a promising strategy to restore the functional myocardium in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for decades . Multiple stem cell types have been used in both preclinical experiments and clinical trials, all having pros and cons .…”