THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS TREATMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Atherosclerosis remains a primary driver of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, characterized by the progressive accumulation of lipids and inflammatory infiltrates within the arterial wall.This multifaceted pathology originates with endothelial dysfunction, particularly in regions subjected to disturbed hemodynamic flow, and evolves into the formation of unstable plaques that frequently culminate in acute clinical events such as myocardial infarction and stroke.While current pharmacological interventions-primarily statins and antiplatelet agents-effectively reduce mortality, they exhibit significant limitations in stabilizing advanced lesions and preventing post-interventional restenosis.Consequently, stem cell-based therapies have emerged as a transformative strategy in regenerative medicine, aiming to modulate the disease's underlying cellular mechanisms rather than merely addressing its clinical manifestations.Various cell populations, including mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, are currently being investigated for their roles in vascular repair, mediated through immunomodulation, endothelial restoration, and exosome-driven paracrine signaling.Although preliminary findings indicate the safety of these interventions, the successful translation of such regenerative approaches into routine clinical practice necessitates the standardization of protocols and the execution of large-scale clinical trials to establish long-term efficacy and stability.