ABSTRACT
During stem-cell therapy for myocardial infarction (MI), cells grown in an oxygen-rich in vitro environment are transplanted into oxygen-deprived ischemic region of the heart, which results in extensive cell loss and poor recovery. In an effort to increase the survival of the transplanted stem cells in regions of severe oxygen and nutrient deprivation, hypoxic preconditioning is currently under investigation as a potential strategy. This review presents an overall view of the practice and importance of hypoxic preconditioning in stem-cell therapy for cardiac repair.
