Embryonic stem cells: differentiation into cardiomyocytes and potential for heart repair and regeneration

Abstract

Many forms of heart disease are associated with the loss of cardiomyocytes both via apoptosis or necrosis, and despite the recent identification of resident cardiac stem cells, the native capacity for renewal and repair is inadequate. Cell transplantation strategies have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for repairing injured myocardium. Many different cell types including embryonic stem cells have been transplanted in myocardial infarction (MI) models with resulting improvement in myocardial function. Here, we review the current state of knowledge with regard to the potential of embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in the embryonic stem cell derived-embryoid body (EB) in vitro system as well as for myocardial regeneration following myocardial infarction.