title: Placental mesenchymal stem cells: a unique source for cellular cardiomyoplasty.
abstract: In coronary heart disease, the use of stem cells for regeneration purposes has been broadly studied. Whereas bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells remain the most extensively investigated, other cell sources have been reported. Here we discuss and compare the characteristics of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a novel alternative cell source for cellular cardiomyoplasty. These cells are isolated from the human term placenta, which is normally discarded post partum. With their lack of ethical conflicts and young age, the readily available placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells could be more suitable for myocardial regenerative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Cardiac and Experimental Surgery, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Makhoul
authors.forename: Ray C J
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cecere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy