Dear Colleagues,

Despite the dramatic progression of available pharmacological therapies for the management of cardiovascular disease, it remains the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Heart failure (HF), a complex life-threatening situation comprising neuro-hormonal stimulation and cardiac dysfunction, represents the end stage of different heart diseases (valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies). Damage irreversibility, myocardial remodeling processes, and the inability to replace the dead cardiomyocytes constitute the main limitations of current invasive and non-invasive therapeutic approaches for HF, particularly post-acute myocardial infarction. Thus, restoring anormal myocardial function is a challenge for researchers. Regenerative medicine is a promising therapy that may offer survival benefits for millions of patients. It includes stem cells, extracellular vesicles, genetic modifications, and bioactive factors with scaffolds made up of biodegradable and biocompatible materials. It is essential to consider both pathophysiological and immunomodulatory properties for evaluating their applicability in cardiac tissue repair and regeneration. Data from the literature have reported the safety of these therapies and showed reduction in infarct size, scar formation and fibrosis. Moreover, recovery of cardiac function, inhibition of apoptosis, ventricular remodeling, prolonged inflammatory reaction, collagen deposition, and extracellular matrix degradation, and the promotion of angiogenesis, mature functional cardiomyocytes generation and survival have all been observed. This special issue provides a platform for publications on the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and biotherapies including stem cells and gene therapies in addition to biomaterial-based tissue (engineered cardiac patches) in the setting of HF and myocardial repair. To conclude, the translational of stem cells and gene therapy from clinical trials into practice and the application of these novel therapies for HF treatment after overcoming the related safety concerns are essential steps to revolutionize the overall prognosis and survival of HF-patients.

This Special Issue "Tissue Repair and Regeneration in Heart Failure” will collect high-quality original research papers and comprehensive reviews on recent advances in biotherapies, stem cells, gene therapy and bioengineering medicine to treat heart failure. 

 

Prof. Jerome Roncalli and Dr. Anthony Matta
Guest Editors