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Cardiac Regeneration and Repair: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies

  • Vasco Sampaio-Pinto
  • , Ana C. Silva
  • , Perpétua Pinto-do-Ó
  • , Diana S. Nascimento*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases lead the ranking of lethal causalities worldwide, which has been largely attributed to the limited regenerative capacity of the human heart. This restricted myocardial renewing capacity and exacerbated fibrosis often result in heart failure. Currently, the only long-term efficient therapy for this condition is whole-organ transplantation, which is limited by the shortage of donors and physiological constraints. Hence, several cutting-edge strategies to improve cardiac function, namely, gene and cellular therapies, biomaterial design and delivery, either solely or combined, are under investigation. In parallel, studies on heart development and on regenerative mechanisms evolutionarily conserved amongst species have highlighted molecules that hold potential for future therapeutic purposes. This perspective gained further relevance with recent advances showing that murine hearts display regenerative potential yet restrict to a limited period after birth. This chapter will revisit the regenerative capacity of the heart across species and throughout the lifespan, while discussing current advances in therapeutic alternatives for heart failure.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConcepts and Applications of Stem Cell Biology
Subtitle of host publicationA Guide for Students
PublisherSpringer
Pages187-211
Number of pages25
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-43939-2
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-43938-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameLearning Materials in Biosciences
VolumePart F9785
ISSN (Print)2509-6125
ISSN (Electronic)2509-6133

Keywords

  • Cardiac development
  • Cardiac injury models
  • Cardiac regeneration/repair
  • Cardiac stem/progenitor cells
  • Cardiomyocyte maturation
  • Cardiomyocyte proliferation
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Cell cycle arrest
  • Heart failure
  • Neonatal heart

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