Developmental origins and lineage descendants of endogenous adult cardiac progenitor cells

Mammalian hearts carry a number of primitive stem cell-like populations, although the magnitude of their contribution to tissue homeostasis and repair remains controversial. Recent CRE recombinase-based lineage tracing experiments suggest only a minor contribution to the formation of new cardiomyocytes from such cells, albeit one that might be augmented therapeutically. As the field explores clinical translation of cardiac stem cells, it will be important to understand the biology of these cells in great detail. In this review we document the various reported stem and progenitor cell populations in mammalian hearts and discuss the current state of knowledge on their origins and lineage capabilities.