In recent years, several studies have investigated cell transplantation as an innovative strategy to restore cardiac function following heart failure. Previous studies have also shown cardiac progenitor cells as suitable candidates for cardiac cell therapy compared with other stem cells. Cellular kit (c-kit) plays an important role in the survival and migration of cardiac progenitor cells. Like other types of cells, in the heart, cellular responses to various stimuli are mediated via coordinated pathways. Activation of c-kit+ cells leads to subsequent activation of several downstream mediators such as PI3K and the MAPK pathways. This review aims to outline current research findings on the role of PI3K/AKT and the MAPK pathways in myocardial regeneration potential of c-kit+.
Keywords: MAPK/ERK signaling; PI3K/Akt signaling; cardiac c-Kit+ progenitor cells; cardiac dysfunction; cardiomyocyte differentiation; cardiomyocyte renewal; heart failure; mesenchymal stem cells; myocardial regeneration potential; stem cell-based therapy.