Cardiomyocyte Division and Cardiac Regeneration

For decades, it has been believed that the heart loses its regenerative capacity shortly after birth. However, recent research has shown that the adult heart has some ability to regenerate, though the degree of new cardiomyocyte formation can vary. This ongoing debate has not only advanced our knowledge of heart growth and repair but has also sparked confusion about the potential for cardiac regeneration. This review explores various factors influencing cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration, such as the body's metabolic state, the key regulatory roles of growth factors, epigenetic regulation, and gaseous signaling molecules. The aim is to reconsider cardiac regeneration as a potential therapeutic target for heart-related diseases, providing new insights and strategies to address the challenges in treating human heart diseases.