The CD133 ⁺ Cell as Advanced Medicinal Product for Myocardial and Limb Ischemia

Ischemic diseases are the major cause of death and morbidity in Western countries. In the last decade, cell therapy has been suggested to be a promising treatment both in acute/chronic myocardial and peripheral ischemia. Different cell lineages have been tested, including endothelial progenitor cells. A subpopulation of bone marrow-derived immature ECPs, expressing the highly conserved stem cell glycoprotein antigen prominin-1 or CD133 marker, was shown to possess pro-angiogenic and antiapoptotic effects on ischemic tissues. The mechanisms implicated in CD133+ cells ability to contribute to neovascularization processes have been attributed to their ability to directly differentiate into newly forming vessels and to indirectly activate pro-angiogenic signaling by paracrine mechanisms. A large body of in vivo experimental evidences has demonstrated the potential of CD133+ cells to reverse ischemia. Moreover, several clinical trials have reported promising beneficial effects after infusion of autologous CD133+ into ischemic heart and limbs exploiting various delivery strategies. These trials have contributed to characterize the CD133+ manufacturing process as an advanced cell product (AMP). The aim of this review is to summarize available experimental and clinical data on CD133+ cells in the context of myocardial and peripheral ischemia, and to focus on the development of the CD133+ cell as an anti-ischemic AMP.