Cardiac Stem Cell–Derived Treatment for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Review

Abstract

Current first-line pharmacologic therapies for ischemic heart disease (ISD) have proven largely ineffective, leading to the exploration of alternative treatments. Various stem cell–like/progenitor cell lineages have been studied, especially c-kit+ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) due to their true stem cell origin and differentiation capabilities. These CSCs reside in the heart after birth and possess regenerative potential, providing a means of maintaining and repairing myocardial tissue. Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of CSCs for patients with ISD. However, counterarguments have focused on the inflammatory state present in diseased hearts, which may limit the benefits of c-kit+ CSCs. Nonetheless, we argue that a thorough examination of the literature supports the potential of c-kit+ CSCs as a safe and effective therapeutic approach for restoring lost cardiac tissue and function in patients with ISD. Though promising, we believe further scientific inquiry is necessary to discern the exact mechanisms by which c-kit+ CSCs function, which could pay dividends in the approach to treating ISD.