Applications of Stem Cell Implantation in Cardiology

angioplasty, an important amount of myocardial damage occurs in acute myocardial infarction. Until recently myocardium was thought to be a postmitotic organ and had no regenerative ability. In recent human and animal studies it has been shown that cardiac myocytes can be regenerated to a certain extent. Recent studies also promise that myocyte regeneration cycle can be modified by cellular therapies or some cytokines. Promising results were obtained by implantation of skeletal myoblasts and stem cells obtained or mobilized by cytokines from bone marrow into the myocardium via different routes. Our review summarizes current studies about stem cell therapies in post myocardial infarction period and in chronic ischemic heart disease.