Insights Into Signaling in Cell-Based Therapy for Heart Disease

Abstract

Over the past several decades, stem cell therapy for heart disease has been translated from the bench to the bedside and in clinical trials improves cardiac structure and function in both ischemic and nonischemic cardiac disease. Although the regenerative effects of stem cells in cardiac disease are mediated by both paracrine and cell-to-cell contact mechanisms, many of the downstream signaling pathways remain to be fully elucidated. This review outlines what is currently known about the main signaling pathways involved in mesenchymal stem cell and cardiac stem cell survival, proliferation, and migration and mechanisms of action to repair the damaged heart.