• Epicardial EMT is a critical process in cardiac development and repair, involving epithelial cells transitioning to mesenchymal phenotypes to contribute to cardiac cell types and paracrine signaling.
• Endogenous epicardial EMT is insufficient for adequate cardiac repair, necessitating strategies to amplify or redirect EMT pathways for therapeutic benefit.
• Reactivation of epicardial EMT in adult heart disease patients represents a promising avenue for innovative treatments.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of EMT is essential for developing effective cardiac regeneration therapies.