Stem cells in cardiovascular diseases: turning bad days into good ones

摘要

Highlights ? Efficiency of MSC therapy for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been disappointing. ? The use of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) for modeling CVDs generates useful data. ? PSC-cardiomyocytes show advantages compared to animal models in preclinical assays. ? Patient PSCs can be used to individually assess the safest and most efficient therapy. ? In the short term, the major impact of PSCs on the CVD field might be at the bench. Abstract During the past decade, several types of stem cells have been investigated as promising therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among them, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were the most investigated stem cell population. Hundreds of clinical trials later, results remain disappointing and far from the revolutionary improvements expected for heart function. In the present review, we address strategies under investigation to boost MSC therapy for CVDs. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are also intended to reach clinical applications for CVDs, but here we suggest that, in the short term, the major impact of PSCs in the cardiovascular field might be at the bench and not the bedside.