Chiyin Wang

Abstract Promoting endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation is a promising strategy for cardiac repair. Identifying key factors that regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation can advance the development of novel therapies for heart regeneration. Here, we identify Foxk1 and Foxk2 as key regulators of cardiomyocyte proliferation, whose expression declines during postnatal heart development.

eLife Assessment This manuscript offers valuable information on the combinatory effect of small molecules, CHIR99021 and A-485 (2C), during the reprogramming of mature cardiomyocytes into regenerative cardiac cells on stimulating cardiac cell regeneration.

Abstract Adult mammals, unlike some lower organisms, lack the ability to regenerate damaged hearts through cardiomyocytes (CMs) dedifferentiation into cells with regenerative capacity. Developing conditions to induce such naturally unavailable cells with potential to proliferate and differentiate into CMs, i.e., regenerative cardiac cells (RCCs), in mammals will provide new insights and tools for heart regeneration research.