The basics of cell therapy to treat cardiovascular disease: one cell does not fit all

• Published in: Revista española de cardiologia Vol. 62; no. 9; pp. 1032 - 1044
• Main Authors: Taylor, Doris A, Robertson, Matthew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Artificial Organs; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cardiovascular Diseases - surgery; Forecasting; Heart Failure - surgery; Humans; Myocardium - cytology; Stem Cell Transplantation
• ISSN: 1579-2242
• DOI: 10.1016/S0300-8932(09)72101-3

Cardiovascular disease represents a continuum of disease entities whose medical treatments differ. Cell therapy is a 21st century approach to treating cardiovascular disease and is being applied worldwide. However, no concerted approach exists for defining the best cell population(s) to use, or the best treatment conditions. It is naïve to believe that a single treatment -even a stem cell- can be found to treat the entire spectrum of cardiovascular disease. We describe the continuum of ischemic heart disease, the potential uses of cells for treating this continuum, and the basic issues that must be considered when contemplating cardiovascular cell therapy. The clinical goal is cardiac and vascular regeneration. Whether cells can deliver this remains to be determined. The correct cell, the ideal therapeutic window, and the <> patient likewise are open to debate. This article is designed to provide insights into the early, middle, and later stages of cardiovascular disease and how cells might be used differently for treatment at each stage.