Mesenchymal stem cells’ homing and cardiac tissue repair

Abstract

Nowadays, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are essential players in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. MSCs are used to treat cardiac disorders by intramyocardial injection or injection into the bloodstream. Therefore, a premise of successful MSC-based therapy is that the cells reach the site of injury and home the damaged tissue. In response to inflammatory conditions, MSCs can potentially move into the place of injury and colonize damaged tissues, where they participate in their regeneration. This review presents the current knowledge of the mechanisms of MSCs migration and target tissue homing in the field of cardiovascular therapies.