Research into potential targets for cardiac repair encompasses recognition of tissue‐resident cells with intrinsic regenerative properties. The adult vertebrate heart is covered by mesothelium, named the epicardium, which becomes active in response to injury and contributes to repair, albeit suboptimally. Motivation to manipulate the epicardium for treatment of myocardial infarction is deeply rooted in its central role in cardiac formation and vasculogenesis during development. Moreover, the epicardium is vital to cardiac muscle regeneration in lower vertebrate and neonatal mammalian‐injured hearts. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the biology of the mammalian epicardium in development and injury. Considering present challenges in the field, we further contemplate prospects for reinstating full embryonic potential in the adult epicardium to facilitate cardiac regeneration.

中文翻译：

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恢复成人心外膜的胚胎潜能：心脏修复的前景

对心脏修复潜在靶点的研究包括识别具有内在再生特性的组织驻留细胞。成年脊椎动物心脏被间皮覆盖，称为心外膜，它对损伤作出反应并有助于修复，尽管不是最理想的。操纵心外膜治疗心肌梗塞的动机深深植根于其在发育过程中心脏形成和血管生成中的核心作用。此外，心外膜对于低等脊椎动物和新生哺乳动物受伤心脏的心肌再生至关重要。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了我们目前对哺乳动物心外膜发育和损伤生物学的理解。考虑到该领域目前的挑战，