These studies demonstrate that cloned Sca-1+CD45- cells derived from CSs from infarcted “middle aged” hearts are enriched for second heart field (i.e., Isl-1+) precursors that give rise to both myocardial and vascular tissues, and may be an appropriate source of progenitor cells for autologous cell-therapy post-MI. This evidence concerns the gene PTPRC and myocardial infarction.