Open AccessStem/Progenitor Cells, Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Regeneration
Author(s) -
Olena Dotsenko
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the open cardiovascular medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.302
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 1874-1924
DOI - 10.2174/1874192401004010097
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , medicine , stem cell , homing (biology) , regeneration (biology) , endothelial stem cell , angiogenesis , stem cell therapy , endothelial progenitor cell , cancer research , immunology , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , biology , ecology , biochemistry , in vitro
Regenerative cell based therapy has potential to become effective adjuvant treatment for patients with atherosclerotic disease. Although data from animal studies support this notion, clinical studies undertaken in patients with acute and chronic coronary artery disease do not conclusively demonstrate benefits of such therapy. There are many questions on the stem cell translational roadmap. The basic mechanisms of stem cell-dependent tissue regeneration are not well understood. There is a debate regarding characterization of specific cell types conferring therapeutic effects. In particular, the role of endothelial progenitor cells as a specific reparative cell subtype is questioned, and the role of myeloid cell linage in fostering of vasculo- and angiogenesis is being increasingly appreciated. Intense discussions surround the place of stem/progenitor cells in atherosclerosis progression, plaque destabilization and vessel remodeling. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the regenerative stem/progenitor cell definitions, mechanisms of stem cell trafficking, homing and their involvement in atherosclerosis progression.