| abstract |
The invention provides cardiac-derived pluripotent stem cells, which on proliferation and differentiation can produce a variety of cell types including cardiocytes, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, keratinocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. The cells can be used in methods of treating patients suffering from necrotic heart tissue. The stem cells proliferate and differentiate to produce cardiocytes replacing the necrotic tissue. The cells can also be used to screen compounds for activity in promoting proliferation and/or differentiation of cardiac-derived stem cells. |