Current Status of Angiogenic Cell Therapy and Related Strategies Applied in Critical Limb Ischemia

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-02, Vol.22 (5), p.2335
• Main Authors: Beltrán-Camacho, Lucía, Rojas-Torres, Marta, Durán-Ruiz, Mᵃ Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amputation; Angiogenesis; Angioplasty; Animal models; Animals; arteriogenesis; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Blood flow; Cell therapy; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Comorbidity; critical limb ischemia; Diabetes; Disease Models, Animal; Exosomes; Extremities - blood supply; Extremities - physiopathology; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - therapeutic use; Ischemia; Ischemia - complications; Ischemia - physiopathology; Ischemia - therapy; miRNA; neovascularization; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Nitric oxide; Pain; Peripheral Arterial Disease - complications; Peripheral Arterial Disease - physiopathology; Peripheral Arterial Disease - therapy; Quality of life; Review; Risk factors; secretomes; Stem cell transplantation; Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Stem cells; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052335

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) constitutes the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it is characterized by progressive blockade of arterial vessels, commonly correlated to atherosclerosis. Currently, revascularization strategies (bypass grafting, angioplasty) remain the first option for CLI patients, although less than 45% of them are eligible for surgical intervention mainly due to associated comorbidities. Moreover, patients usually require amputation in the short-term. Angiogenic cell therapy has arisen as a promising alternative for these "no-option" patients, with many studies demonstrating the potential of stem cells to enhance revascularization by promoting vessel formation and blood flow recovery in ischemic tissues. Herein, we provide an overview of studies focused on the use of angiogenic cell therapies in CLI in the last years, from approaches testing different cell types in animal/pre-clinical models of CLI, to the clinical trials currently under evaluation. Furthermore, recent alternatives related to stem cell therapies such as the use of secretomes, exosomes, or even microRNA, will be also described.