ABSTRACT
Introduction Our understanding of stem cell biology has advanced considerably in the past few years. Cell transplantation has been proposed as a strategy to promote both neovascularization and cardiac tissue replacement.1-10 There is increasing evidence that cell transplantation may improve the perfusion and contractile function of the ischemic myocardium. Whether this is achieved by replacing necrotic cardiomyocytes with new functional cells, by increasing the number of contractile elements in remnant viable cells, by improving myocardial perfusion as a result of local angiogenesis, or by a combination of these mechanisms remains to be elucidated.
