Mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac repair

Introduction MSC isolation, characterization and standardization Mechanisms of cardiac repair Ex vivo manipulation of MSCs Pre‐clinical application on cardiovascular disease Clinical application: where are we? Summary Abstract Accumulating clinical and experimental evidence indicates that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising cell types in the treatment of cardiac dysfunction. They may trigger production of reparative growth factors, replace damaged cells and create an environment that favours endogenous cardiac repair. However, identifying mechanisms which regulate the role of MSCs in cardiac repair is still at work. To achieve the maximal clinical benefits, ex vivo manipulation can further enhance MSC therapeutic potential. This review focuses on the mechanism of MSCs in cardiac repair, with emphasis on ex vivo manipulation.