To date, there is no suitable in vitro model to study human adult cardiac cell biology. Here, we describe a method for efficient isolation and expansion of human cardiomyocyte progenitor cells (CMPCs) from cardiac surgical waste or, alternatively, from fetal heart tissue. Additionally, we provide a detailed in vitro protocol for efficient differentiation of CMPCs into cardiomyocytes with great efficiency (80–90% of differentiation). Once CMPCs are rapidly dividing (approximately 1 month after isolation), differentiation can be achieved in 3–4 weeks.
