Background: Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 proteins (Fndc5), an exercise hormone, formerly known as peroxisomal protein that was cloned in 2002. Transcript profile analysis of Fndc5 revealed high degree of expression in heart, skeletal muscle and brain. Our recent studies indicated a significant increase (approximately 10 folds) in mRNA level of Fndc5 when mouse embryonic stem cells w...

The first 2 reviews in this series have described the defining properties of stem cells, their possible sources, and some initial attempts at their clinical use for tissue regeneration and repair. This third and final article in the series describes bioengineering methods for building physical structures to contain and organize implanted cells. The relevant theory is that appropriate physical s...

during isometric contraction. J Physiol (Lond) 251: 627-643 Krueger JW, Wittenberg BA (1978) Dynamics of myofilament sliding in single intact cardiac muscle cells (abstr). Circulation 58: (suppl II): 33 Lapicque L (1907) Recherches quantitative sur l'excitation electriquer des nerfs traitee comme une polarisation. J Physiol (Paris) 9: 620-635 Manring A, Nassar R, Johnson EA (1977) Light diffrac...

In this review, we focus on new approaches that could lead to the regeneration of heart muscle and the restoration of cardiac muscle function derived from newly-formed cardiomyocytes. Various strategies for the production of cardiomyocytes from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, adult bone marrow stem cells and cardiac spheres from human heart biopsies are described. Patholog...

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and has become a health problem worldwide. The reported incidence of new cancer cases is estimated at 19.3 million, with a mortality rate of 10 million in the world in 2020. There are several therapeutic approaches for cancer, including chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is consuming anti-neoplastic drugs, alone or in combination. However...

While the approaches of regenerating cardiac muscle remain undetermined, recent evidence indicates that paracrine function of transplanted cells contributes significantly to the beneficial effects of cell therapy. Combination of such paracrine function of grafted cells with extracellular matrix remodelling by relaxin represents a promising complement to cell-based therapy for cardiac repair and...