Cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation

Although rapid progress is being made in many areas of molecular cardiology, issues pertaining to the origins of heart-forming cells, the mechanisms responsible for cardiogenic induction, and the pathways that regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation during embryonic and adult life remain unanswered. In the present study, we review approaches and studies that have shed some light on cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation. For reference, an initial description of cardiomyogenic induction and morphogenesis is provided, which is followed by a summary of published cell cycle analyses during these stages of cardiac ontology. A review of studies examining cardiomyocyte cell cycle analysis and de novo cardiomyogenic induction in the adult heart is then presented. Finally, studies in which cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity was experimentally manipulated in vitro and in vivo are reviewed. It is hoped that this compilation will serve to stimulate thought and experimentation in this intriguing area of cardiomyocyte cell biology.