Two decades of heart regeneration research: Cardiomyocyte proliferation and beyond

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

WIREs Mechanisms of Disease

Volume

16

Issue

1

DOI

10.1002/wsbm.1629

Abstract

Interest in vertebrate cardiac regeneration has exploded over the past two decades since the discovery that adult zebrafish are capable of complete heart regeneration, contrasting the limited regenerative potential typically observed in adult mammalian hearts. Undercovering the mechanisms that both support and limit cardiac regeneration across the animal kingdom may provide unique insights in how we may unlock this capacity in adult humans. In this review, we discuss key discoveries in the heart regeneration field over the last 20 years. Initially, seminal findings revealed that pre-existing cardiomyocytes are the major source of regenerated cardiac muscle, drawing interest into the intrinsic mechanisms regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation. Moreover, recent studies have identified the importance of intercellular interactions and physiological adaptations, which highlight the vast complexity of the cardiac regenerative process. Finally, we compare strategies that have been tested to increase the regenerative capacity of the adult mammalian heart. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.

Funding Number

R01HL138456

Funding Sponsor

National Institutes of Health

Keywords

cardiomyocyte proliferation, heart regeneration, immune system, stem cells

Department

Biological Sciences

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