Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte-like Cells in Myocardial Regeneration.

Myocardial infarction (MI) results in the significant loss of cardiomyocytes (CM) due to the ischemic injury following coronary occlusion leading to impaired contractility, fibrosis, and ultimately heart failure (HF). Stem cell therapy emerged as a promising regenerative strategy to replenish the otherwise terminally differentiated CM to restore cardiac function. Multiple strategies have been applied to successfully differentiate diverse stem cell populations into CM-like phenotypes characterized by the expression status of signature biomarkers and observable spontaneous contractions. This article comprehends discusses the current understanding and applications of various stem cell phenotypes to drive the differentiation machinery toward CM-like lineage.