Table 1.
Stem cell populations utilized for cardiac tissue engineering applications.
| STEM CELL | ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES | CLINICAL TRIALS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) | Robust in vitro expansion Broad differentiation potential |
Potential tumor formation upon in vivo transplantation Potential for immune rejection Ethical issues associated with derivation |
NCT02057900: Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived progenitors in severe heart failure |
| Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) | Robust in vitro expansion Broad differentiation potential Limited ethical issues Ability to generate patient-specific therapies |
Potential tumor formation upon in vivo transplantation Use of oncogenes for derivation Genetic and epigenetic instability |
None reported |
| Bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) | Limited ethical issues Ability to generate autologous therapies |
Limited in vitro expansion Difficult to isolate Limited cardiac differentiation potential |
NCT00279175: REPAIR-AMI: intracoronary progenitor cells in acute myocardial infarction NCT00684021: Use of adult autologous stem cells in treating people who have had a heart attack (the TIME study) NCT00877903: Prochymal® (human adult stem cells) intravenous infusion following acutemyocardial infarction (AMI) |
| Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) | Easy to isolate Robust in vitro expansion Limited ethical issues Ability to generate autologous therapies |
Limited cardiac differentiation potential |
NCT01556022: Safety and feasibility trial of adipose-derived regenerative cells in the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia (ATHENA) NCT02052427: Safety and efficacy of adipose-derived regenerative cells in the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia (ATHENA II) NCT01449032: MesenchYmal STROMAL CELL therapy in patients with chronic myocardial ischemia (MyStromalCell Trial) |
| Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) | Robust in vitro expansion Broad cardiac differentiation potential Limited ethical issues Ability to generate autologous therapies |
Difficult to isolate Lack of consensus on purification methods |
NCT00474461: Cardiac stem cell infusion in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (SCIPIO) NCT00893360: CArdiosphere-derived aUtologous stem CElls to reverse ventricUlar dySfunction (CADUCEUS) |