Cardiac myocyte differentiation reported thus far is from iPS cells generated from mice and human fibroblasts. iPS cells from cardiac or ventricular specific cell types are generated herein having the potential to repair and regenerate infarcted myocardium. The cells were transduced with four sternness factors and reprogrammed them into iPS cells. These cardiac iPS cells were able to differentiate into beating cardiac myocytes, formed cardiac-specific structures, and positively stained for cardiac specific proteins. Transplanted cells also significantly inhibited apoptosis and fibrosis and improved cardiac function.
