Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells Differentiate into an Endothelial Phenotype, Enhance Vascular Density, and Improve Heart Function in a Rat Cellular Cardiomyoplasty Model

Abstract
Background— Cellular cardiomyoplasty is a promising approach to improve postinfarcted cardiac function. The differentiation pathways of engrafted mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) and their effects on the left ventricular function in a rat myocardial infarct heart model were analyzed.