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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

In Vitro Culture of Epicardial Cells From Mouse Embryonic Heart
Published on: April 27, 2016
Epicardium in Heart Development
Yingxi Cao1, Sierra Duca1, Jingli Cao1
1Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Abstract:
The epicardium, the outermost tissue layer that envelops all vertebrate hearts, plays a crucial role in cardiac development and regeneration and has been implicated in potential strategies for cardiac repair. The heterogenous cell population that composes the epicardium originates primarily from a transient embryonic cell cluster known as the proepicardial organ (PE). Characterized by its high cellular plasticity, the epicardium contributes to both heart development and regeneration in two critical ways: as a source of progenitor cells and as a critical signaling hub. Despite this knowledge, there are many unanswered questions in the field of epicardial biology, the resolution of which will advance the understanding of cardiac development and repair. We review current knowledge in cross-species epicardial involvement, specifically in relation to lineage specification and differentiation during cardiac development.
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