Assessment of the differentiation potential of Sca-1-positive cells in the heart

• Applicant: Dr. Florian Weinberger
• Subject Area: Pharmacology ; Developmental Biology ; Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: from 2014 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 257680171

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Congestive heart failure represents almost half of these cases and often results from the hearts inability to regenerate. Until recently the heart has been regarded as a postmitotic organ incapable of regeneration. However, recent publications have shown consistently that a small number of cardiomyocytes are generated in the adult mammalian heart. Some studies suggest the differentiation of progenitors to cardiomyocytes. Other studies propose that cardiomyocytes are derived from the proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes. At present this question remains unsolved. This project focuses on a putative progenitor cell population that is characterized by the expression of the Stem cell antigen 1 (Sca-1). The aim of the study is to elucidate whether Sca-1-positive cells represent a cardiac progenitor cell population during development and in the adult murine heart.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Charles Murry, Ph.D.