biostudies-literatureGomez JAHHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutee2103676118https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8379963biostudies-literatureUnknown118(33)Cardiomyogenesis, the process by which the body generates cardiomyocytes, is poorly understood. We have recently shown that Sfrp2 promotes cardiomyogenesis in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine if Sfrp2 would similarly promote cardiomyogenesis in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we tracked multipotent cKit(+) cells in response to Sfrp2 treatment. In control adult mice, multipotent cKit(+) cells typically differentiated into endothelial cells but not cardiomyocytes. In contrast, Sfrp2 switched the fate of these cells. Following Sfrp2 injection, multipotent cKit(+) cells differentiated solely into cardiomyocytes. Sfrp2-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into the myocardium and exhibited identical physiological properties to preexisting native cardiomyocytes. The ability of SfrpProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaA role for Sfrp2 in cardiomyogenesis in vivo.PMC8379963RO1 HL35610Gomez JAHodgkinson CPPayne APratt REDzau VJfalseA role for Sfrp2 in cardiomyogenesis in vivo.Cardiomyogenesis, the process by which the body generates cardiomyocytes, is poorly understood. We have recently shown that Sfrp2 promotes cardiomyogenesis in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine if Sfrp2 would similarly promote cardiomyogenesis in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we tracked multipotent cKit(+) cells in response to Sfrp2 treatment. In control adult mice, multipotent cKit(+) cells typically differentiated into endothelial cells but not cardiomyocytes. In contrast, Sfrp2 switched the fate of these cells. Following Sfrp2 injection, multipotent cKit(+) cells differentiated solely into cardiomyocytes. Sfrp2-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into the myocardium and exhibited identical physiological properties to preexisting native cardiomyocytes. The ability of Sfrp2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Aug2025-04-05T14:05:42.124Z2025-04-05T14:05:42.124ZS-EPMC83799633438073810.1073/pnas.2103676118