title: The double life of cardiac mesenchymal cells: Epimetabolic sensors and therapeutic assets for heart regeneration.
abstract: Organ-specific mesenchymal cells naturally reside in the stroma, where they are exposed to some environmental variables affecting their biology and functions. Risk factors such as diabetes or aging influence their adaptive response. In these cases, permanent epigenetic modifications may be introduced in the cells with important consequences on their local homeostatic activity and therapeutic potential. Numerous results suggest that mesenchymal cells, virtually present in every organ, may contribute to tissue regeneration mostly by paracrine mechanisms. Intriguingly, the heart is emerging as a source of different cells, including pericytes, cardiac progenitors, and cardiac fibroblasts. According to phenotypic, functional, and molecular criteria, these should be classified as mesenchymal cells. Not surprisingly, in recent years, the attention on these cells as therapeutic tools has grown exponentially, although only very preliminary data have been obtained in clinical trials to date. In this review, we summarized the state of the art about the phenotypic features, functions, regenerative properties, and clinical applicability of mesenchymal cells, with a particular focus on those of cardiac origin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Epigenetics, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: chcencioni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cencioni
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Epigenetics, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: sandra.atlas@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atlante
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Epigenetics, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Universitá Cattolica, Institute of Medical Pathology, 00138 Rome, Italy; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: savomat88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savoia
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS-Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy. Electronic address: fabio.martelli@grupposandonato.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia, Roma, Italy; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: afarsetti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farsetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Patologia Vascolare, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: capogrossi@idi.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Capogrossi
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: zeiher@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zeiher
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Epigenetics, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: gaetano@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaetano
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Epigenetics, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Internal Medicine Clinic III, Department of Cardiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany. Electronic address: fspallotta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spallotta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology; D010641:Phenotype; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Cardiac fibroblast; Cardiovascular diseases; Epigenetics; Mesenchymal stem cells; Metabolism; Regenerative medicine