Bar graphs showing the mRNA expression of pluripotent markers - Oct-4 and Nanog (Panel A and Panel B, respectively), cardiac markers - Nkx2.5/Csx and GATA4 (Panel C and Panel D, respectively) and endothelial antigen - vWF (Panel E) in PB TNCs isolated from ischemic heart disease patients and controls. The expression of primitive, cardiac and endothelial genes was consistently higher in STEMI patients early after the acute event (* P < 0.05 as compared to controls). NSTEMI, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction; STEMI, ST-elevation myocardial infarction.