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Human embryonic stem cells potentially represent an unlimited source of cells and tissues for regenerative medicine. Understanding signaling events that drive proliferation and specialization of these cells into various differentiated derivatives is of utmost importance for controlling their behavior in vitro. Major progress has been made in unraveling these signaling events with large-scale studies at the transcriptional level, but analysis of protein expression, interaction and modification has been more limited, since it requires different strategies. Recent advances in mass spectrometry-based proteomics indicate that proteome characterization can contribute significantly to our understanding of embryonic stem cell biology. In this article, we review mass spectrometry-based studies of human and mouse embryonic stem cells and their differentiated progeny, as well as studies of conditioned media that have been reported to support self-renewal of the undifferentiated cells in the absence of the more commonly used feeder cells. In addition, we make concise comparisons with related transcriptome profiling reports.

One way to restore failing heart function following myocardial infarction would be to replace lost or damaged cardiac cells by local or systemic injection. The sources of replacement cells presently discussed include embryonic stem cells, hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow or cord blood and small stem cell populations thought to reside in the heart itself or in skeletal muscle. Here we review this area of stem cell research with focus particularly on recent laboratory advances towards producing cardiomyocytes from embryonic stem cells. We conclude that embryonic stem cells and cardiac progenitors in the heart itself are the only proven sources of cardiomyocytes and that reported clinical effects of bone marrow stem currently undergoing validation are likely mediated by other mechanisms.