Cardiac progenitor cell (CPC)

Cardiac progenitor cells are multipotent, tissue-resident cells found in both the developing embryo and adult heart, capable of differentiating into all major cardiac lineages, including cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells[1][4][5]. They are critical for cardiac development, maintenance, and have been explored as cell sources for regenerative therapy after myocardial infarction and in heart failure; however, they are not a single targetable protein or receptor, but a heterogeneous population, defined by expression of various surface markers such as c-Kit, Sca1, KDR/FLK1, and by transcription factors such as NKX2.5 and ISL1[1][4][5]. Their therapeutic use is under investigation but is limited by issues of cell survival, engraftment, and potential for adverse effects such as arrhythmia[1]. As a cell population, they are not a direct drug target; however, cell therapies may use CPCs, and some factors/regimens modulate their behavior in vitro or in vivo.

Other names

Cardiac stem cellCardiovascular progenitor cellCPCCSC (sometimes "cardiac stem cell")Cardiogenic progenitor cell

Not applicable (not a single molecule; cell therapies using CPCs generally rely on their capacity to engraft and differentiate into cardiac cell types)