Open AccessImproving survival and efficacy of pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac grafts
Author(s) -
Don Creighton W.,
Murry Charles E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.12147
Subject(s) - embryonic stem cell , induced pluripotent stem cell , stem cell , transplantation , angiogenesis , biology , apoptosis , cell , inflammation , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cancer research , medicine , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Human embryonic stem cells ( hESC s) can be differentiated into structurally and electrically functional myocardial tissue and have the potential to regenerate large regions of infarcted myocardium. One of the key challenges that needs to be addressed towards full‐scale clinical application of hESC s is enhancing survival of the transplanted cells within ischaemic or scarred, avascular host tissue. Shortly after transplantation, most hESC s are lost as a result of multiple mechanical, cellular and host factors, and a large proportion of the remaining cells undergo apoptosis or necrosis shortly thereafter, as a result of loss of adhesion‐related signals, ischaemia, inflammation or immunological rejection. Blocking the apoptotic signalling pathways of the cells, using pro‐survival cocktails, conditioning hESC s prior to transplant, promoting angiogenesis, immunosuppressing the host and using of bioengineered matrices are among the emerging techniques that have been shown to optimize cell survival. This review presents an overview of the current strategies for optimizing cell and host tissue to improve the survival and efficacy of cardiac cells derived from pluripotent stem cells.