Towards a clinical use of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitors: a translational experience

摘要

Aim This paper describes the multi-step translational approach that has resulted in the generation of clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitor cells for transplantation in patients with severe ischaemic heart failure. There is now compelling evidence that cells committed to a cardiac lineage are most effective for improving the function of infarcted hearts. This has been confirmed by our pre-clinical studies entailing transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cardiac progenitors in rat and non-human primate models of myocardial infarction. These data have paved the way for a translational programme aimed at a phase I clinical trial.