In the past decade, substantial evidence supports the paradigm that stem cells exert their reparative and regenerative effects, in large part, through the release of biologically active molecules acting in a paracrine fashion on resident cells. The data suggest the existence of a tissue microenvironment where stem cell factors influence cell survival, inflammation, angiogenesis, repair, and regeneration in a temporal and spatial manner.
Keywords: fibroblast growth factor; heart diseases; myocardial infarction; regeneration; stem cells.
© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.