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Exploring Stem Cell Biology for Cardiovascular Regeneration

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 7004

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
Interests: cardiac regenerative therapy; Induced pluripotent stem cell; stem cell therapy; transcatheter therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Regenerative therapy has recently emerged for treating cardiovascular diseases, and numerous preclinical and clinical studies using various types of stem cells and tissue engineering have been proven to improve organ functions. For example, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells represent an unlimited source of a variety of cells because of their great potential for differentiation and are therefore one of the most promising sources of cells for cardiovascular regenerative therapy.

This Special Issue calls for both original articles and reviews, providing the readers of IJMS with a comprehensive elucidation about cardiovascular regenerative therapy, tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, and stem cell biology.

Dr. Tadahisa Sugiura
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cardiac regenerative therapy
  • tissue engineering
  • stem cell biology
  • stem cell therapy
  • induced pluripotent stem cell

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5964 KiB  
Article
Dihydrotestosterone Augments the Angiogenic and Migratory Potential of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells by an Androgen Receptor-Dependent Mechanism
by Mirel Adrian Popa, Cristina Maria Mihai, Viorel Iulian Șuică, Felicia Antohe, Raghvendra K. Dubey, Brigitte Leeners and Maya Simionescu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094862 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in cardiovascular regeneration. Enhancement of their native properties would be highly beneficial to ensuring the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. As androgens have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, we hypothesized that dihydrotestosterone [...] Read more.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in cardiovascular regeneration. Enhancement of their native properties would be highly beneficial to ensuring the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. As androgens have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, we hypothesized that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) could also influence EPC-mediated repair processes. To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of DHT on cultured human EPCs’ proliferation, viability, morphology, migration, angiogenesis, gene and protein expression, and ability to integrate into cardiac tissue. The results showed that DHT at different concentrations had no cytotoxic effect on EPCs, significantly enhanced the cell proliferation and viability and induces fast, androgen-receptor-dependent formation of capillary-like structures. DHT treatment of EPCs regulated gene expression of androgen receptors and the genes and proteins involved in cell migration and angiogenesis. Importantly, DHT stimulation promoted EPC migration and the cells’ ability to adhere and integrate into murine cardiac slices, suggesting it has a role in promoting tissue regeneration. Mass spectrometry analysis further highlighted the impact of DHT on EPCs’ functioning. In conclusion, DHT increases the proliferation, migration, and androgen-receptor-dependent angiogenesis of EPCs; enhances the cells’ secretion of key factors involved in angiogenesis; and significantly potentiates cellular integration into heart tissue. The data offer support for potential therapeutic applications of DHT in cardiovascular regeneration and repair processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Stem Cell Biology for Cardiovascular Regeneration)
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Review

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21 pages, 1774 KiB  
Review
Innovative Therapeutic Strategies for Myocardial Infarction Across Various Stages: Non-Coding RNA and Stem Cells
by Bingqi Zhuang, Chongning Zhong, Yuting Ma, Ao Wang, Hailian Quan and Lan Hong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010231 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1303
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a highly challenging and fatal disease, with diverse challenges arising at different stages of its progression. As such, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can broadly regulate cell fate, and stem cells with multi-differentiation potential are emerging as novel therapeutic approaches [...] Read more.
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a highly challenging and fatal disease, with diverse challenges arising at different stages of its progression. As such, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can broadly regulate cell fate, and stem cells with multi-differentiation potential are emerging as novel therapeutic approaches for treating MI across its various stages. NcRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), can directly participate in regulating intracellular signaling pathways, influence cardiac angiogenesis, and promote the repair of infarcted myocardium. Currently, stem cells commonly used in medicine, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can differentiate into various human cell types without ethical concerns. When combined with ncRNAs, these stem cells can more effectively induce directed differentiation, promote angiogenesis in the infarcted heart, and replenish normal cardiac cells. Additionally, stem cell-derived exosomes, which contain various ncRNAs, can improve myocardial damage in the infarcted region through paracrine mechanisms. However, our understanding of the specific roles and mechanisms of ncRNAs, stem cells, and exosomes secreted by stem cells during different stages of MI remains limited. Therefore, this review systematically categorizes the different stages of MI, aiming to summarize the direct regulatory effects of ncRNAs on an infarcted myocardium at different points of disease progression. Moreover, it explores the specific roles and mechanisms of stem cell therapy and exosome therapy in this complex pathological evolution process. The objective of this review was to provide novel insights into therapeutic strategies for different stages of MI and open new research directions for the application of stem cells and ncRNAs in the field of MI repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Stem Cell Biology for Cardiovascular Regeneration)
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13 pages, 937 KiB  
Review
Current Status of Cardiac Regenerative Therapy Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
by Tadahisa Sugiura, Dhienda C. Shahannaz and Brandon E. Ferrell
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5772; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115772 - 26 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3510
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disorder and is treated by drug therapies and surgical interventions such as heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, these treatments can lack effectiveness in the long term and are associated with issues such as [...] Read more.
Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disorder and is treated by drug therapies and surgical interventions such as heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, these treatments can lack effectiveness in the long term and are associated with issues such as donor shortage in heart transplantation, and infection, stroke, or gastrointestinal bleeding in LVADs. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies are still needed. In this respect, stem cell therapy has been introduced for the treatment of HF and numerous preclinical and clinical studies are employing a range of stem cell varieties. These stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have been shown to improve cardiac function and attenuate left ventricular remodeling. IPSCs, which have a capacity for unlimited proliferation and differentiation into cardiomyocytes, are a promising cell source for myocardial regeneration therapy. In this review, we discuss the following topics: (1) what are iPSCs; (2) the limitations and solutions for the translation of iPSC-CMs practically; and (3) the current therapeutic clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Stem Cell Biology for Cardiovascular Regeneration)
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