Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Medicina Regenerativa, Universidade Federal do RIo de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Tais Hanae Kasai-Brunswick
Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Medicina Regenerativa, Universidade Federal do RIo de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Antonio Carlos Campos de Carvalho
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Medicina Regenerativa, Universidade Federal do RIo de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Summary: We review the evidence for the presence of stem/progenitor cells in the heart and the preclinical and clinical data using diverse cell types for the therapy of cardiac diseases. We highlight the failure of adult stem/progenitor cells to ameliorate heart function in most cardiac diseases, with the possible exception of refractory angina. The use of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is analysed as a viable alternative therapeutic option but still needs further research at preclinical and clinical stages. We also discuss the use of direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes and the use of extracellular vesicles as therapeutic agents in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiac diseases. Finally, gene therapies and genome editing for the treatment of hereditary cardiac diseases, ablation of genes responsible for atherosclerotic disease, or modulation of gene expression in the heart are discussed.
