Preclinical stem cell therapy in Chagas Disease: Perspectives for future research

Chagas cardiomyopathy still remains a challenging problem that is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in Central and Latin America. Chagas disease disrupts blood microcirculation via various autoimmune mechanisms, causing loss of cardiomyocytes and severe impairment of heart function. Diffe...

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Published inWorld journal of transplantation Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 119 - 126
Main Authors de Carvalho, Katherine Athayde Teixeira, Abdelwahid, Eltyeb, Ferreira, Reginaldo Justino, Irioda, Ana Carolina, Guarita-Souza, Luiz Cesar
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited 24.12.2013
Subjects
Minireviews
Chagas Disease
Therapy
Translation
Pathophysiologie
Stem cell
Co-cultured
Preclinical
Myoblasts
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Summary:Chagas cardiomyopathy still remains a challenging problem that is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in Central and Latin America. Chagas disease disrupts blood microcirculation via various autoimmune mechanisms, causing loss of cardiomyocytes and severe impairment of heart function. Different cell types and delivery approaches in Chagas Disease have been studied in both preclinical models and clinical trials. The main objective of this article is to clarify the reasons why the benefits that have been seen with cell therapy in preclinical models fail to translate to the clinical setting. This can be explained by crucial differences between the cellular types and pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease, as well as the differences between human patients and animal models. We discuss examples that demonstrate how the results from preclinical trials might have overestimated the efficacy of myocardial regeneration therapies. Future research should focus, not only on studying the best cell type to use but, very importantly, understanding the levels of safety and cellular interaction that can elicit efficient therapeutic effects in human tissue. Addressing the challenges associated with future research may ensure the success of stem cell therapy in improving preclinical models and the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Correspondence to: Katherine Athayde Teixeira de Carvalho, Professor, MD, PhD, Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pequeno Príncipe Faculty, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Av. Siva Jardim 1632, Curitiba 80250-200, Paraná, Brazil. katherinecarv@gmail.com
Telephone: +55-41-33101719 Fax: +55-41-33221446
Author contributions: de Carvalho KAT proposed the review, analyzed the data; Irioda AC collected the data; de Carvalho KAT, Abdelwahid E and Guarita-Souza LC wrote the manuscript; Ferreira RJ performed the references; de Carvalho KAT edited the manuscript.
ISSN:2220-3230
2220-3230
DOI:10.5500/wjt.v3.i4.119