A bioscaffold made from an isolated cardiac fibroblast-derived 3-dimensional extracellular matrix (ECM) is disclosed. The bioscaffold can be used as an epicardial patch for the delivery of therapeutic cells into myocardial tissue. Methods of making the 3-dimensional extracellular matrix using cultured cardiac fibroblasts are also disclosed.

A bioscaffold made from an isolated cardiac fibroblast-derived 3-dimensional extracellular matrix (ECM) is disclosed. The bioscaffold can be used as an epicardial patch for the delivery of therapeutic cells into myocardial tissue. Methods of making the 3-dimensional extracellular matrix using cultured cardiac fibroblasts are also disclosed.

Methods of isolating cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are provided. Compositions comprising cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are also provided. Methods of using cardiac cells, cardiac progenitor cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue, are provided. Methods of identifying the prognosis of patients treated for heart disease and/or methods of predicting the regeneration of cardiac cells in a subject are also provided.

Methods of isolating cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are provided. Compositions comprising cardiac cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue are also provided. Methods of using cardiac cells, cardiac progenitor cells, including cardiac cells capable of regenerating cardiac tissue, are provided. Methods of identifying the prognosis of patients treated for heart disease and/or methods of predicting the regeneration of cardiac cells in a subject are also provided.

Provided is a method for inducing a skeletal muscle cell including a step of introducing MyoD family gene or an expression product thereof and Myc family gene or an expression product thereof into a somatic cell of a mammal.

Provided is a method for inducing a skeletal muscle cell including a step of introducing MyoD family gene or an expression product thereof and Myc family gene or an expression product thereof into a somatic cell of a mammal.

Provided are pharmaceutical compositions that include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and isolated post-natal cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and/or progeny cells thereof that are SSEA3-positive and c-kit-negative. Also provided are methods for preparing cells capable of repairing damaged myocardium, methods for isolating populations of SSEA3-positive/c-kit-negative CPCs from cardiac tissue samples, methods for preparing an isolated cell population enriched in post-natal SSEA3-positive/c-kit-negative CPCs, therapeutic methods for using the presently disclosed cells and populations of cells to treat subjects in need thereof, and cell cultures that contain the presently disclosed cells and populations of cells.

Provided are pharmaceutical compositions that include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and isolated post-natal cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and/or progeny cells thereof that are SSEA3-positive and c-kit-negative. Also provided are methods for preparing cells capable of repairing damaged myocardium, methods for isolating populations of SSEA3-positive/c-kit-negative CPCs from cardiac tissue samples, methods for preparing an isolated cell population enriched in post-natal SSEA3-positive/c-kit-negative CPCs, therapeutic methods for using the presently disclosed cells and populations of cells to treat subjects in need thereof, and cell cultures that contain the presently disclosed cells and populations of cells.

The present invention provides genetic markers for identifying engraftable human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells. The engraftment markers of the invention include angiogenic markers and extracellular matrix markers. Human ventricular progenitor cells expressing these markers are capable of forming ventricular tissue in vivo that is vascularized and supported by an extracellular matrix. Methods of engrafting human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells by transplanting into a subject progenitor cells that express the engraftment markers are also provided.

The present invention provides genetic markers for identifying engraftable human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells. The engraftment markers of the invention include angiogenic markers and extracellular matrix markers. Human ventricular progenitor cells expressing these markers are capable of forming ventricular tissue in vivo that is vascularized and supported by an extracellular matrix. Methods of engrafting human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells by transplanting into a subject progenitor cells that express the engraftment markers are also provided.