Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation of cardiovascular stem cells, and more particularly to cardiovascular stem cells positive for markers isll+/Nkx2.5+/flkl+ and cardiovascular stem cells which can differentiate along endothelial, cardiac, and smooth muscle cell lineages. The invention relates to uses of the cardiovascular stem cells, in particular for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and as an assay comprising a plurality of cardiovascular stem cells. The invention also relates to a method for isolation and enrichment of stem cells using mesenchymal cell feeder layer and uses of mesenchymal feeder layer as a screening assay for agents which effect stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro methods of expansion and propagation of undifferentiated progenitor cells and more specifically undifferentiated progenitor cells containing Islet1, a marker apparently unique to proliferating cardiac stem cells. Methods are described for isolation of stem cell populations as well as for provoking expansion and propagation of undifferentiated progenitor cells without differentiation, to provide cardiac repair or improve cardiac function, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small molecule high-throughput screening assay consisting of detectably labeled cardiac progenitor cells. The invention also describes a method of identifying small molecules from the high-throughput assay affecting cardiogenesis and/or modulating cardiac progenitor cell development. Also described are methods of stimulating maturation of cardiac progenitor cells using a GSK-3? inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro methods of expansion and propagation of undifferentiated progenitor cells and more specifically undifferentiated progenitor cells containing Islet1, a marker apparently unique to proliferating cardiac stem cells. Methods are described for isolation of stem cell populations as well as for provoking expansion and propagation of undifferentiated progenitor cells without differentiation, to provide cardiac repair or improve cardiac function, for example.

Abstract: The invention discloses use of peptide containing an essential ventricular myosin light chain type 1 (vMLC1) amino acid sequence, which is functional as cleavage site for caspase-3, in the screening for a compound for the treatment of chronic or acute cardiovascular disease. Further, screening methods for inhibitors of the caspase-3-mediated cleavage of vMLC1 are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an inhibitor of caspase-3 or caspase-activated desoxyribonuclease (CAD) for preventing or treating cardiac disease, especially insufficiency of the left ventricle. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the inhibitor is ICAD. The inhibitor is preferably administered through an adenovirus vector containing the gene that codes for this inhibitor in an expressible form. The invention also relates to methods for identifying inhibitors for the inventive therapeutic application, i.e. compounds which inhibit caspase-3 or CAD or the expression of genes that code for these compounds.