Myocardial Repair by Resident Stem Cells; the Potential Mechanism of Action

Abstract

The recent clinical trial on severe heart failure patients treated by autologous c-kit-positive cardiac stem cells resulted in a great success. Here the potential underlined mechanisms, before and after cell administration, are explored and discussed. The topic covered includes direct differentiation, paracrine action, cellular reverse remodeling via mircrine phenomenon, immunomodulatory function, and natural selection process during cell culture. Cardiac stem cells are now shown to be prepared from tiny biopsied specimens as well as frozen tissues, which may remarkably expand the repertoire of the therapeutic strategy against various cardiovascular diseases.