Cardiac stem/progenitor cells, secreted proteins, and proteomics

Stem cell-based therapy is emerging as a novel approach for myocardial repair over conventional cardiovascular therapies. In addition to embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells from noncardiac sources, there is a small population of resident stem cells in the heart from which new cardiac cells (myocytes, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells) can be derived and used for cardiac repair in case of heart injury. It has been proposed that the clinical benefit of stem cells may arise from secreted proteins that mediate regeneration in a paracrine/autocrine manner. To be able to track the regulatory pathway on a molecular basis, utilization of proteomics in stem cell research is essential. Proteomics offers a tool that can address questions regarding stem cell response to disease/injury.