The epicardium has potential in cardiac healing and regeneration in mammals

Abstract

The proepicardium is a small transient structure that develops at the base of the heart, adjacent to the septum transversum. It is made up of pluripotent cells that migrate to the developing heart to give rise to fibroblasts, vascular support cells, cardiomyocytes, and the epicardium. It is unclear if and when proepicardial cells lose their pluripotential.After an ischemic event, such as a heart attack, the heart compensates for cardiomyocyte loss with fibrosis to maintain the integrity of the cardiac wall, preventing rupture. The result is a stiffer and less effective pump.These experiments show the ability of embryonic epicardial cells to contribute to myocardial healing In Vitro after transmural laceration. Following injury, the whole embryonic heart is explanted and cultured. Further studies in adult mice show that epicardial cells are present at the site of injury in a surgical model of cardiac damage. Further studies will show the fate of cells arising from the epicardium that contribute to the healing response following cardiac injury.These preliminary results suggest that epicardial cells are able to migrate and differentiate in response to injury. The epicardium may be a source of pluripotent cells that, with the right encouragement, may have the ability to contribute new vasculature as well as new myocytes after an ischemic event.