Therapeutic Role of Stem Cells in Post-Infarction Cardiac Regeneration: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Authors

Keywords:

myocardial infarction, Stem cell therapy, Cardiovascular Regeneration, Ventricular remodeling, Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), liver disease, Left ventricular ejection fraction, Regenerative cardiology, Angiogenesis

Abstract

Background:

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term cardiac disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, ischemic heart disease accounts for nearly 9 million deaths annually, contributing to approximately 16% of total global deaths. Studies suggest that nearly 20–30% of post-MI survivors eventually develop chronic heart failure due to irreversible myocardial damage and progressive ventricular remodeling. Although current therapies such as thrombolysis, percutaneous

coronary intervention, and pharmacological management have significantly reduced acute mortality rates, they do not adequately regenerate necrotic myocardial tissue. The limited

regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes has therefore shifted scientific interest towards stem cell–based regenerative therapy.

 

Objective:

The study aims to evaluate the role of stem cell therapy in myocardial regeneration following myocardial infarction and to assess its effects on ventricular remodeling, cardiac

performance, and functional recovery.

 

Methodology:

The study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of stem cell therapy by analysing the clinical and hemodynamic parameters including preload, afterload, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), infarct size reduction, myocardial perfusion, angiogenesis, ventricular remodeling, and overall cardiac output.

Discussion:

The studies have shown encouraging but variable outcomes. The BOOST trial

demonstrated an average 6–7% improvement in LVEF six months after intracoronary bone marrow stem cell infusion compared to conventional therapy alone. The SCIPIO trial

reported nearly 8–12% improvement in ventricular function along with significant reduction in infarct size following cardiac progenitor cell therapy.  After therapy results have shown improved myocardial viability and nearly 30–40% reduction in scar tissue formation using mesenchymal stem cells. Several studies additionally observed enhanced neovascularization and improved microvascular circulation after stem cell administration.

However, concerns regarding poor long-term cell survival, immune reactions,

arrhythmogenic potential, and lack of standardized delivery methods continue to limit widespread clinical use.

 

Conclusion:

Stem cell therapy represents a promising advancement in cardiac regenerative medicine. Although current evidence demonstrates measurable improvement in cardiac function and myocardial repair, further multicentric trials and long-term follow-up studies are required

to establish standardized and clinically reliable treatment protocols.

References

References

1. Wollert KC, Meyer GP, Lotz J, et al. Intracoronary autologous bone-marrow cell transfer after myocardial infarction: the BOOST randomised controlled clinical trial. Lancet. 2004;364(9429):141–148.

2. Bolli R, Chugh AR, D’Amario D, et al. Cardiac stem cells in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (SCIPIO): initial results of a randomised phase 1 trial. Lancet. 2011;378(9806):1847–1857.

3. Hare JM, Fishman JE, Gerstenblith G, et al. Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. JAMA. 2012;308(22):2369–2379.

4. Menasché P. Cell therapy trials for heart regeneration — lessons learned and future directions. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2018;15(11):659–671.

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Published

2026-08-19

How to Cite

Durga, D. S., Saraswathi Gurram, Y., Muraleedharan, T., & Dr. Srijamya. (2026). Therapeutic Role of Stem Cells in Post-Infarction Cardiac Regeneration: Current Evidence and Future Directions. International Journal of Medical Students. Retrieved from https://ijms.pitt.edu/IJMS/article/view/4858

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Forthcoming

Section

Abstracts of the WCMSR

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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Sakshi Durga, Yamini Saraswathi Gurram, Tanishka Muraleedharan, Dr. Srijamya

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