Abstract

Recent efforts have made in order to novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the heavy cardiovascular burden. The use of cell therapy and applying stem cell-based therapies has received much attention; of particular interest are adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). The present review aimed to review the studies which examined and researched various aspects of ADSCs to improve cardiac function. A comprehensive review of all articles assessed and discussed the application of ADSCs in the improvement of cardiac tissue renewing and cardiomyocytes regeneration was planned and conducted by the two reviewers. The initial literature search revealed a total of 153 articles that, of those, 34 were considered eligible. From the perspective of heart tissue regeneration, the inductive role of ADSCs in sensing mechanical stimulation and produce collagen and elastin scaffolds, vascularizing cardiac tissue, and exosomes (vesicles derived from ADSCs) in ADSCs-mediated myocardial protection has indicated. In the process of ADSCs differentiation to cardiomyocyte- like cells, the role of various targeted pathways have been identified that can be influenced by different elements such as TGF-beta1, phorbol myristate acetate, Angiotensin II, Rho-associated kinases, 5-Azaytidine, Sodium valproate, fibrin scaffold and trichostatin A have been highlighted. In the final, from a therapeutic point of view, the effectiveness of ADMSCs differentiation to cardiomyocytes as improving left ventricular functional state has been discussed. Summarizing the studies confirms a significant improvement in cardiac function following direct application of ADSCs or their transformation to cardiomyocytes by stimulating or inhibiting various cellular pathways leading reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory bed, reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis, attenuating cardiac fibrosis, reducing the infiltration of immune cells and collagen deposition, and enhancing angiogenesis.