title: Cell therapy to repair broken hearts.
abstract: Current therapeutic options for myocardial infarction include medical therapy, of proven but limited benefit, and various surgical options, which have either restricted applicability or unproven benefit. New cellular-based therapeutic strategies are being developed in response to the shortcomings of available treatments. These include attempts to reinitiate cardiomyocyte proliferation in the adult, conversion of fibroblasts to contractile myocytes and transplantation of myocytes into injured myocardium. The development and current status of these techniques and their relative advantages, problems remaining to be solved and potential clinical applications are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Toronto Hospital-General Division, University of Toronto, Ontario. rli@torhosp.toronto.on.ca
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mickle
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Weisel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left