Complex physiopathological relationships have been proven to exist between two of the body's most vital organs; the brain and the heart. In Cell Cycle Regulation and Differentiation in Cardiovascular and Neural Systems Antonio Giordano, Umberto Galderisi and a panel of the most respected authorities in their field offer an in-depth analysis of the differentiation process in two systems that have profound relationships with one another. The text looks at several aspects of the cardiovascular and nervous systems from a new point of view, describing the differences and similarities in their differentiation pathways with an emphasis on the role of cell cycle regulation and cell differentiation. Topics discussed include neurogenesis in the central nervous system, neural stem cells, and the basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors in neural differentiation. Ground-breaking and authoritative, Cell Cycle Regulation and Differentiation in Cardiovascular and Neural Systems is a must have for all researchers in cardiovascular medicine and neuroscience and will prompt the scientific community to perceive cell cycle regulation and differentiation under a novel and more comprehensive light.

Section I: Introduction to cell cycle and differentiation
Chapter 1: The cell cycle
Antonio Giordano, MD, Umberto Galderisi, PhD

Chapter 2: Transcription factors and muscle differentiation
Ryoichiro Kageyama, PhD

Chapter 3: The basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors in neural differentiation
Gerard Cabello, PhD

Section II: Stem cells

Chapter 4: The Neural Stem Cells
Gianvito Martino, MD and Stefano Plachino

Chapter 5: Cardiac Stem and Progenitor Cells
Ronglih Liao PhD

Chapter 6: Muscle Stem Cells
Michael A. Rudnicki PhD

Chapter 7: Marrow Stromal Mesechymal Stem Cells
Bruce A. Bunnell PhD

Section III: Cell cycle and differentiation in the nervous system

Chapter 8: Neurogenesis in the Central Nervous System: Cell cycle progression / exit and differentiation of neuronal progenitors
Rebecca Matsas and Dimitria Thomaidou PhD

Section IV: Cell cycle and differentiation in the cardiovascular system

Chapter 9: Cell cycle and differentiation in the cardiovascular system
W. R. Mac Lellan, PhD

Chapter 10 : Cell cycle and differentiation in vessels
Amalia Forte PhD, Marilena Cipollaro MD and Antonino Cascino PhD

Section V: Cell cycle and differentiation in the muscle

Chapter 11: Cell cycle regulation in myogenesis
Cristina Giacinti, MD and Antonio Giordano, MD