Abstract: Presented herein, generally, are methods for generating reprogrammed mammalian cells, e.g., induced pluripotent stem cells, from differentiated mammalian cells without the use of viral or plasmid vectors. In one aspect, the methods involve contacting a differentiated cell with transducible polypeptides comprising a reprogramming factor polypeptide linked to a cell penetration peptide so that a reprogrammed mammalian cell that exhibits at least one characteristic of pluripotency is generated. Also presented herein are methods for cardiac differentiation of a mammalian cell without the use of viral or plasmid vectors. In one aspect, such methods involve contacting a mammalian cell exhibiting at least one characteristic of pluripotency with a transducible polypeptide, so that cardiac differentiation of the cell occurs.

Abstract: Methods for treating an injured cardiac tissue in a subject are provided herein. Methods for improving survival, engraftment and proliferation of stem cells in a cardiac tissue are provided. Also provided are methods for generating cardiac cells. Further provided are compositions for generating cardiac cells in a subject.