Overview of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cardiac Regeneration Therapy and Potential Utilities in Canine and Feline Heart Disease

Abstract

The heart is a highly organized organ that regularly and rhythmically pumps blood throughout the body. When heart tissue suffers from ischemia, the injured myocardium is not fully repaired due to its low proliferative capacity. Subsequent fibrosis leads to structural remodeling followed by congestive heart failure. Currently, apart from heart transplantation, no curative therapy is available for the failing heart. To address this medical issue, extensive research has been dedicated to developing cardiac regeneration therapies. For cell therapy to replace the fibrotic myocardium in failing hearts, the most promising cell source is induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes can be produced with optimized differentiation protocols and have been approved for clinical use. However, concerns remain regarding their structural and functional immaturity and the risk of tumorigenic undifferentiated cell contamination. Recent advances in regenerative medicine and bioengineering have been overcoming these hurdles. This review summarizes the history and current status of clinical application of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Additionally, potential utilities of animal-derived iPSCs in veterinary medicine are also discussed particularly focusing on canine and feline cardiology.