Medical Tribune August 2008 P3
Scientists at Harvard have identified a new type of precursor cell which develop into cardiomyocytes.
The cells are located in the epicardium and can be identified through their expression of the Wt1 gene, the researchers reported in Nature. A subset of these cells gave rise to fully functioning cardiomyocytes during normal development of the mouse heart. Other epicardial cells had been previously shown to differentiate into endothelial and smooth muscle cells but not cardiomyocytes.
Identifying these progenitor cells could enable future research to harness their potential for cardiac repair and regeneration, the study authors conclude.
[Nature 2008 Jun 22. Epub ahead of print]
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