Durable and curative responses in heart disease: promises and practicalities
Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2020; 6(2), 241–245
10.18609/cgti.2020.032
Stem cell research led to many therapies becoming available to treat or repair injured or diseased tissues in a range of diseases, from cancers to spinal cord injuries. For cardiovascular therapy, the unique capacity of pluripotent stem cells to replicate and provide large numbers of replacement cells in culture for transplantation purposes may give an advantage over the use of adult stem cells. Mechanisms of their retention are in correlation with route and method of cell delivery, a build-up of cell constructs with materials as well as delivered doses and optimal timing. Yet, their cell potency in vivo is a critical element which warrants a better description. Reliable biomarker identification will advance our understanding of how long the replacement cells will continue to function and their mechanism of action; leading to accelerated novel therapies where cell therapy products show a better homing, integration, quantity, or overall quality upon transplantation.