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Generation of cardiac progenitor cells through epicardial to mesenchymal transition

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Abstract

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that drives the formation of cells involved both in tissue repair and in pathological conditions, including tissue fibrosis and tumor metastasis by providing cancer cells with stem cell properties. Recent findings suggest that EMT is reactivated in the heart following ischemic injury. Specifically, epicardial EMT might be involved in the formation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) that can differentiate into endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and, possibly, cardiomyocytes. The identification of mechanisms and signaling pathways governing EMT-derived CPC generation and differentiation may contribute to the development of a more efficient regenerative approach for adult heart repair. Here, we summarize key literature in the field.

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Acknowledgments

We apologize to the many researchers whose work was not cited in this review. We thank Dr. Giuseppe Aleo for the English editing of the manuscript. The authors are supported by Ministero della Salute (Italian Ministry of Public Health).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio di Patologia Vascolare, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Antonia Germani & Maurizio C. Capogrossi

  2. Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Eleonora Foglio

  3. Laboratorio di Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, San Raffaele Pisana, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Matteo Antonio Russo & Federica Limana

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  1. Antonia Germani
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  2. Eleonora Foglio
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  3. Maurizio C. Capogrossi
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  4. Matteo Antonio Russo
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  5. Federica Limana
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Correspondence to Federica Limana.

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Germani, A., Foglio, E., Capogrossi, M.C. et al. Generation of cardiac progenitor cells through epicardial to mesenchymal transition. J Mol Med 93, 735–748 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-015-1290-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-015-1290-2

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