Sammendrag
The field of stem cell therapy has gone through a revolution the last decade. In the cardiovascular field scientists try to accomplish true regeneration through myogenesis. Other strategies include reducing cell death and promoting angiogenesis. In this report we will go through a selection of the most important cell types used for stem cell research, their fenotypes, the techniques of harvesting, and their pros and cons within the cardiovascular field. The focus today is changing to a new generation of cell types for cardiac therapy. The term “first generation” of cell selection has been introduced, ranging from the year 2000-2008, and includes skeletal myoblast and bone marrow-derived stem cells. The “second generation” ranges from 2009 and until today, and includes mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac progenitor cells. The latter are receiving a lot of attention through today’s clinical trials. In the future we sense a new generation of stem cells arising: The pluripotent stem cells, which include embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. The scientists are still debating which cell is superior, and further research is needed in order to address this question. For comparing the effects of different cell types, the most commonly used measurement is still left ventricular ejection fraction. Too few patients have so far been included in clinical trials in order to evaluate mortality rates. The field of stem cells for cardiac repair may have been rushed to clinical trials, even before the scientists fully understood the true mechanisms of action underlying cell therapy. Today the scientists are retreating back to their labs as more basic research is needed before stem cell therapy in full can be offered cardiovascular patients.