Stem Cells and Their Derivatives in Cardiac Fibrosis Therapy: Challenges and Perspectives

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Cardiac fibrosis is a pathology induced by various conditions, such as myocardial infarction, or certain cardiomyopathies, and represents one of the most prevalent cardiac abnormalities. This process, defined as the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix within damaged cardiac tissue, leads to significant complications, including impaired systolic and diastolic function as well as arrhythmias. Conventional therapies focus primarily on slowing down the progression of fibrosis. Recently, there has been a growing research interest in therapies based on stem cells and their derivatives, which hold the potential to greater decrease formation and area of fibrosis. In this review, we aim to systematise the most recent data regarding the application of these approaches. We focus on describing the types of cells employed, methods of their implementation, and strategies for optimising these processes. Particular attention is given to exosomes due to the reports highlighting their use as innovative and potentially effective tools in the treatment of cardiac diseases.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.