A new study in mice shows that a dual therapy can lead to generation of new blood vessels and improved cardiac function following a heart attack. The research, published by Cell Press in the April 3rd issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, provides an explanation for the ineffectiveness of current stem-cell-mobilizing therapies and may drive design of future regenerative therapies for the heart.

Stem-cell-based therapies are an attractive option for the treatment of heart damage after a heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI). However, although animal studies using stem cells derived from the bone marrow have elicited some improvement in cardiac function, human trials have not been as successful. "Modern approaches have to focus on the process of cardiac homing to improve the clinical outcome of stem cell therapies," explains senior study author, Dr. Wolfgang-Michael Franz from Ludwig-Maximilians University…