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A molecular signature for the “master” heart cell
Author(s) -
Anton Roman,
Kühl Michael,
Pandur Petra
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20562
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , biology , cell , endothelial stem cell , stem cell , cell type , endothelial progenitor cell , progenitor , cardiac cell , signature (topology) , myocyte , identity (music) , microbiology and biotechnology , evolutionary biology , genetics , immunology , geometry , mathematics , in vitro , physics , acoustics
The vertebrate heart comprises a variety of cell types, the majority of which are cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Their origin is still an intriguing research topic and the question is whether these cells derive from a common or from multiple distinct progenitor cell(s). Three recent publications not only suggest the existence of a single progenitor cell that can give rise to cardiovascular lineages but additionally uncovered, at least in part, the molecular identity of such a multipotent precursor cell.1–3 These findings constitute major progress in the quest for stem‐cell therapies for cardiac diseases. BioEssays 29:422–426, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.