Signaling pathways influencing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation—Special emphasis on cardiomyocytes

In the developmental stages of the embryo, the heart is the primary organ that becomes functional. Diseases of the heart are critical and may lead to sudden demise. Basic and clinical studies have been conducted to find a suitable cure for killer diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and heart failure. One such probable solution to repair and replace the impaired cells noninvasively is the use of stem cell therapy, especially embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Many different methods and strategies have been established to make this approach feasible in the future. Some of them are cardiac regeneration, tissue engineering, and direct reprogramming to produce cardiomyocytes. It is imperative to understand the signaling pathways involved in the self-renewal and differentiation of the stem cells that would advance the therapeutic regimen for heart diseases. Hence, a detailed description of the pathways and the probable use of stem cells have been discussed in this chapter with suitable evidence.