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

Maira Souza de Oliveira; Felipe Saldanha-Araujo; Alfredo Miranda de Goes; Fabricio F Costa; Juliana Lott de Carvalho

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2017.07.012

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

Drug Discov Today. 2017 Nov;22(11):1730-1739. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.07.012. Epub 2017 Aug 4.

Authors

Maira Souza de Oliveira¹, Felipe Saldanha-Araujo², Alfredo Miranda de Goes³, Fabricio F Costa⁴, Juliana Lott de Carvalho⁵

Affiliations

¹ Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30123-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
² Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Health Sciences Department, University of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
³ Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30123-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
⁴ Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, 70790-160, DF, Brazil; MATTER Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60 654, USA; The Founder Insitute, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁵ Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30123-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil; CellSeq Solutions, Belo Horizonte, 30160-041, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, 70790-160, DF, Brazil; OneSkin Technologies, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: juliana.carvalho@ucb.br.

PMID: 28782686
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.07.012

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.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy*
Humans
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
Pluripotent Stem Cells / transplantation*