Stem cell research is an ongoing activity of interest among the researchers of this field. Since quite some time, researchers have been investigating the stem cells of animals for their potential use in treating incurable diseases.
Stem cells are found in most of the multicellular organisms. These cells can regenerate themselves by mitosis and differentiation. Stem cells found in mammals can be classified as embryonic stem cells found in blastocysts and the adult stem cells in the adult tissues. Cell culture can be used to grow and transform stem cells into specialized cells
In the 12-month Phase II, double-blind trial, subjects’ own purified stem cells, called CD34+ cells, were injected into their hearts in an effort to spur the growth of small blood vessels that make up the microcirculation of the heart muscle. Researchers believe the loss of these blood vessels contributes to the pain of chronic, severe angina.
“This is the first study to show significant benefit in pain reduction and improved exercise capacity in this population with very advanced heart disease,” said principal investigator Douglas Losordo, M.D., the Eileen M. Foell Professor of Heart Research at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a cardiologist and director of the program in cardiovascular regenerative medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the lead site of the study.
Out of the estimated 1 million people in the U.S. who suffer from chronic, severe angina — chest pain due to blocked arteries — about 300,000 cannot be helped by any traditional medical treatment such as angioplasty, bypass surgery or stents. This is called intractable or severe angina, the severity of which is designated by classes
The stem cell transplant is the first therapy to produce an improvement in severe angina subjects’ ability to walk on a treadmill. Twelve months after the procedure, the transplant subjects were able to double their improvement on a treadmill. It also took twice as long until they experienced angina pain on a treadmill, and, when they felt pain, it went away faster with rest
