Stem cell therapy in heart failure: where do we stand and where are we heading?

Abstract

Heart failure is a multifactorial and complex debilitating disease facing limitations in available pharmacological therapeutics. To cure such a disease, cardiac regeneration has been envisioned using stem cells. A few clinical trials using bone marrow-derived stem cells have been carried out without conclusive results. Stem cells of other origins should therefore be considered for future trials. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of the most promising stem cells to be used in cell therapy are reviewed. The remaining challenges of cell therapy of heart failure are also presented.