Cardiac Stem Cells - University Group of Palermo and Naples (Italy)  

This is a group of scientists from the Department of Experimental Medicine of the University of Palermo and the Department of Medicine and Public Health of the Second University of Naples involved in Cardiac Stem Cell research. All members are part to the Italian Society of Human Anatomists and work in the Human Anatomy Sections of the above mentioned departments. We are an independent group, and we are trying to renew research’s approach in the field of Human Anatomy.

Despite the numerous difficulties, we would like to demonstrate that also an independent research group, with no financial support can be involved in this field and hopefully will succeed in the intent of publishing outstanding papers. 

Research on Cardiac Stem Cells started in 2003, and even now the exact markers and identity of these cells are still unknown. Moreover, it is not known if they are resident or migrating cells and if they reside in the heart even before birth. A Cardiac Stem Cell is defined as a multipotent cell capable of differentiating into smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. The use of these cells for a new surgical approach would be crucial. We believe that additional basic research in this field is necessary before any attempt to use them for a surgical approach. We developed a new method to study these cells in a 3D culture and this system may also be used for in vivo experiments. Moreover, we are trying to understand if these cells in foetal human hearts are resident or migrating cells, and if what has been demonstrated so far in mouse is applicable or not.