Harnessing Epicardial Progenitor Cells and Their Derivatives for Rescue and Repair of Cardiac Tissue after Myocardial Infarction

Ischemic heart disease and stroke lead to the greatest number of deaths worldwide. Despite decreased time to intervention and improvements in the standard of care, one out of five patients who survive a myocardial infarction (MI) still face long-term chronic heart failure and a 5-year mortality rate of about 50%. Based on their multi-potency for differentiation and paracrine activity, epicardial cells and their derivatives have potential to rescue jeopardized tissue and/or promote cardiac regeneration. Here, we review the diagnosis and treatment of MI, basic epicardial cell biology, and potential treatment strategies designed to harness the reparative properties of epicardial cells.