Sources of cardiomyocytes for stem cell therapy: an update

The therapeutic use of stem cells for cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI) has generated a great deal of interest. Many types of stem/progenitor cells have been used in an attempt to regenerate the infarcted heart. We have reviewed the current state of progress using embryonic stem (ES) cells, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs), mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells, resident and cardiac "stem" cells from other sources. Our view is that, even though the road ahead is long and tortuous, embryonic stem cells represent the most reliable font of CMC and the most promising type of cell to rely on for a future tool in heart failure treatment