title: Cardiomyocyte differentiation from embryonic and adult stem cells.
abstract: In recent years multiple reports indicating that embryonic as well as adult stem cells can differentiate to cardiomyocytes have ignited discussions on whether these stem cells could lead to new therapies for patients with heart disease. Recent developments have been made in the generation of cardiomyocytes from both embryonic and adult stem cells, and progress towards clinical applications in patients with heart failure has been made. Nevertheless, controversies surrounding safety and transdifferentiation issues will need to be overcome before these stem cell approaches can reach their full potential.
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Laboratory and Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passier
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mummery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*