Stem/Progenitor cells in vascular regeneration.
A series of studies has been presented in the search for proof of circulating and resident vascular progenitor cells, which can differentiate into endothelial and smooth muscle cells and pericytes in animal and human studies. In terms of pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, iPS, and partial-iPS cells, they display a great potential for vascular lineage differentiation. Development of stem cell therapy for treatment of vascular and ischemic diseases remains a major challenging research field. At the present, there is a clear expansion of research into mechanisms of stem cell differentiation into vascular lineages that are tested in animal models. Although there are several clinical trials ongoing that primarily focus on determining the benefits of stem cell transplantation in ischemic heart or peripheral ischemic tissues, intensive investigation for translational aspects of stem cell therapy would be needed. It is a hope that stem cell therapy for vascular diseases could be developed for clinic application in the future.
From the Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (L.Z.); and Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Division, King's College London BHF Centre, London, United Kingdom (Q.X.).
Li
L
Zhang
From the Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (L.Z.); and Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Division, King's College London BHF Centre, London, United Kingdom (Q.X.). qingbo.xu@kcl.ac.uk.
Qingbo
Q
Xu
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
angiogenesis; atherosclerosis; induced pluripotent stem cells; restenosis; stem cells