Benefit of stem cells and skeletal myoblast cells in dilated cardiomyopathies

Although some authors suggest that there is mitotic division in the heart, most cardiomyocytes do not have the capacity to regenerate after myocardial infarction and when this occurs there is a deterioration of contractile function, and if the area of infarction is extensive ventricular remodeling may occur, leading to the development of heart failure. Cell transplantation into the myocardium with the goal of recovery of cardiac function has been extensively studied in recent years. The effects of cell therapy are based directly on the cell type used and the type of cardiac pathology. For myocardial ischemia in the hibernating myocardium, bone marrow cells have functional benefits, however these results in transmural fibrosis are not evident. In these cases there is a benefit of implantation with skeletal myoblasts, for treating the underlying cause of disease, the loss of cell contractility. (C) 2011 Baishideng. All rights reserved.