©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Mar 26, 2015; 7(2): 352-367
Published online Mar 26, 2015. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i2.352
Published online Mar 26, 2015. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i2.352
“Second-generation” stem cells for cardiac repair
Alberto Núñez García, Ricardo Sanz-Ruiz, María Eugenia Fernández Santos, Francisco Fernández-Avilés, Instituto para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Núñez García, Ricardo Sanz-Ruiz, María Eugenia Fernández Santos, Francisco Fernández-Avilés, Department of Internal Medicine, Complutense University - School of Medicine, 28007 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Núñez García, Ricardo Sanz-Ruiz, Francisco Fernández-Avilés, Department of Cardiology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
María Eugenia Fernández Santos, Laboratory of Bioartificial Organs and Scaffolds, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
Author contributions: Núñez García A performed literature review and wrote the paper; Sanz-Ruiz R reviewed, supervised and approved the manuscript; Fernández Santos ME reviewed the manuscript; Fernández-Avilés F reviewed and approved the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ricardo Sanz-Ruiz, MD, Department of Cardiology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Doctor Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain. rsanzruiz@hotmail.com
Telephone: +34-914-265882 Fax: +34-915-868276
Received: August 6, 2014
Peer-review started: August 6, 2014
First decision: September 4, 2014
Revised: September 26, 2014
Accepted: November 7, 2014
Article in press: November 7, 2014
Published online: March 26, 2015
Processing time: 226 Days and 9.4 Hours
Peer-review started: August 6, 2014
First decision: September 4, 2014
Revised: September 26, 2014
Accepted: November 7, 2014
Article in press: November 7, 2014
Published online: March 26, 2015
Processing time: 226 Days and 9.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Myocardial infarction and heart failure represent two of the most prevalent and fatal diseases. Stem cell therapies represent a novel approach capable of restoring the cellular loss observed in these conditions. Data from initial human studies have been encouraging but inconclusive. However, refinements in cell populations as well as new stem cell sources are currently being tested in large phase III clinical trials after showing positive results in preclinical models and early clinical reports, thus holding a promise for the achievement of a true myocardial regeneration after myocardial infarction. We review here recent developments in this field.