Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Heart Development in the Early Stage Embryo

Abstract

Heart cells developmentally originate from cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) populating in the heart field, which is located in the most anterior part of the lateral plate mesoderm. The molecular mechanisms underlying the determination of which cell type a CPC will develop into (ventricular cardiomyocyte, atrial cardiomyocyte, conducting system, cardiac fibroblast, smooth muscle cell, or endothelial cell) remain largely unknown. Additionally, the factors controlling the decision regarding which specific anatomical structure in the heart a cell will develop into, are still unknown. In this review, we discuss our recent progress in the study of CPCs, how they are specified, and how they differentiate. We also discuss future perspectives of cardiac development and potential therapeutic applications.