COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS BASED ON THE DIFFERENTIATION OF EPICARDIAL CELLS TO TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL FATES

摘要

Disclosed are epicardium-derived mesenchymal cells (EPDCs) that differentiate to fates that are commonly adopted by mesenchymal cells elsewhere in the body, but not currently associated with the epicardium. Also disclosed are methods, systems and assays relating to adipocyte and/or osteogenic differentiation in EPDCs that are often related to disease or disregulated states, i.e. the “atypical” fates of epicardium-derived cells. Disclosed are specific EPDC cells that model both the typical fates and atypical fates of EPDCs, and resultant uses of such EPDC cells in systems, methods, compositions and drug discovery.