The Scientist takes us inside one of
a number of trials of first generation
autologous stem cell therapy aimed at regenerating the damage of heart disease: "More than 10 years ago, researchers isolated
endothelial progenitor cells from the ranks of
CD34+ cells derived from bone marrow or mobilized to the peripheral blood. This provided a rationale for the idea that CD34+ cells could induce
angiogenesis. Human CD34+ cells have been shown to induce angiogenesis and improve cardiac function in a rat model of
myocardial ischemia, and
CD31+ cells, the pig analog of CD34+ cells, have been shown to do the same in that species. The Phase II trial Bergman is enrolled in follows a successful Phase I trial of the method in humans, using direct injection following catheterization because it can precisely target areas of ischemia."
View the Article Under Discussion:
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/home/24908/
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