To achieve cardiac regeneration using pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, researchers must understand iPS cell generation methods, cardiomyocyte differentiation protocols, cardiomyocyte characterization methods, and tissue engineering. This book presents the current status and future possibilities in cardiac regeneration using iPS cells. Written by top researchers who present new data in these fields, this book reviews cardiac cell therapy for ischemic heart disease and explores in vitro generation of efficacious platelets from iPS cells. It also discusses modeling arrhythmogenic heart disease with patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.

This Volume of the series Cardiac and Vascular Biology offers a comprehensive and exciting, state-of-the-art work on the current options and potentials of cardiac regeneration and repair. Several techniques and approaches have been developed for heart failure repair: direct injection of cells, programming of scar tissue into functional myocardium, and tissue-engineered heart muscle support. The book introduces the rationale for these different approaches in cell-based heart regeneration and discusses the most important considerations for clinical translation. Expert authors discuss when, why, and how heart muscle can be salvaged. The book represents a valuable resource for stem cell researchers, cardiologists, bioengineers, and biomedical scientists studying cardiac function and regeneration.

Medical research made huge strides in treating heart disease in the 20th century, from drug-eluding stents to automatic internal defibrillators. Public awareness of the dangers of heart disease has never been more pervasive. Now, though, ten years into a new millennium, scientists are gearing up for the next great challenges in tackling this pervasive condition. Cell therapy is going to be a key weapon in the fight against heart disease. It has the potential to address many cardiovascular conditions. From heart failure to atrioventricular nodal dysfunction, the young but promising field of cell therapy is set to play a significant role in developing the cures that the upcoming decades of hard work will yield. Regenerating the Heart: Stem Cells and the Cardiovascular System organizes the field into a digestible body of knowledge. Its four sections cover mechanical regeneration, electrical regeneration, cardiac tissues and in vivo stem cell therapies. An array of talented researchers share the fruits of their labors, with chapters covering such crucial issues as the cardiogenic potential of varying stem cell types, the ways in which they might be used to tackle arrhythmias, their possible application to biological replacements for cardiac tissues such as valves, and the varying approaches used in the in vivo evaluation of stem cell therapies, including methods of delivering stem cells to the myocardium. This comprehensive survey of an area of research with such exciting potential is an invaluable resource both for veteran stem cell researchers who need to monitor fresh developments, and for newly minted investigators seeking inspirational examples.

Injured mammalian hearts do not regenerate but scar. This is a major medical problem, as ischemic heart disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Essential clues for human heart repair are uncovered when zebrafish and newt are found to regenerate cardiac muscle after injury.This book presents the major advances of the last decade in the field of cardiac regeneration. These recent advances include: demonstration that zebrafish, a genetically tractable system, can regenerate heart; the identification of several new stem cell populations in the heart; demonstration that stem cells can be used to improve heart function; and demonstration that induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation is a realistic future option to repair injured hearts. This book also provides detailed reviews of the research on model organisms capable of heart regeneration as well as innovative translational research to achieve regeneration in mammals, that comprises work on blood born stem cells, endogenous cardiac stem cells, paracrine factors, reawakening of cardiomyocyte proliferation, and bioengineering. More importantly, the book, in the concluding chapter, dovetails the studies with a comprehensive overview of clinical trials.

This second book in the Stem Cell Repair and Regeneration series provides a deeper exploration of the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human stem cells.Regenerative medicine is an extremely fast-moving field which is evolving from the initial days of hype and excitement to a more realistic appraisal of the role of stem cells in the treatment of degenerative disorders. The series aims to keep abreast of these changes by combining new knowledge in stem cell biology and therapeutic applications.The current volume contains papers by the field's leading scientists and explores the current knowledge on cell therapy for different diseases and injured organs, including diabetes, liver and heart disease.

This book provides an update of recent advances in the basic and clinical applications of cell-based therapies for myocardial repair and regeneration in ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF). The first sections of the book illuminate basic aspects of stem cells such as definitions, isolation criteria and characterization of embryonic and adult stem cells, as well as pluripotent stem cells and tissue specific progenitor and stem cells. In the following section, the text examines the role of critical regulators of stem cell differentiation in myocardial regeneration, that include circadian rhythyms, microRNAs, epigenetics, microvescicles, and exosomes. The text concludes with a review of the use of stem/progenitor cells in cardiac regeneration and discuss current controversies, unresolved issues, challenges, and future directions. Stem Cells and Cardiac Regeneration is addressed to a wide audience consisting of cardiologists, clinicians, and research scientists, who will learn new concepts in cardiovascular regeneration and repair with special focus on molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential for cardiovascular regeneration.

This book is the definitive reference on two of the most exciting areas of cardiovascular research – myocardial regeneration and stem cell therapy – for the treatment of disease. Edited by pioneers in the area, with contributions from every major investigator worldwide, it covers: The biology of stem cells The actions of stem cells from the bone marrow, the heart, and embryos on the normal restorative and repair functions of the heart and blood vessels How stem cells could contribute to myocardial recovery in the face of injury and aging How adjuvant therapy with growth factors might enhance stem cell activity in regeneration and repair Clinical applications and clinical experiences This fully referenced publication presents the current state of knowledge in both basic science and clinical practice, and is an essential reference for scientists, students, and clinicians.