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 sorted CD34+ cells 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.