In 2001, three independent groups reported the identification of a novel cluster of progenitor cells that contribute to heart development in mouse and chicken embryos. This population of progenitor cells was designated as the second heart field (SHF), and a new research direction in heart development was launched. Twenty years have since passed and a comprehensive understanding of the SHF has been achieved. This review provides retrospective insights in to the contribution, the signaling regulatory networks and the epithelial properties of the SHF. It also includes the spatiotemporal characteristics of SHF development and interactions between the SHF and other types of cells during heart development. Although considerable efforts will be required to investigate the cellular heterogeneity of the SHF, together with its intricate regulatory networks and undefined mechanisms, it is expected that the burgeoning new technology of single-cell sequencing and precise lineage tracing will advance the comprehension of SHF function and its molecular signals. The advances in SHF research will translate to clinical applications and to the treatment of congenital heart diseases, especially conotruncal defects, as well as to regenerative medicine.

2001年，三个独立小组报告了一种新的祖细胞簇的鉴定，这些祖细胞有助于小鼠和鸡胚胎的心脏发育。这群祖细胞被指定为第二心脏领域（SHF），并启动了心脏发育的新研究方向。二十年过去了，人们对SHF有了全面的了解。这篇综述对 SHF 的贡献、信号调节网络和上皮特性提供了回顾性见解。它还包括 SHF 发育的时空特征以及心脏发育过程中 SHF 与其他类型细胞之间的相互作用。尽管需要付出相当大的努力来研究 SHF 的细胞异质性，连同其复杂的调控网络和未定义的机制，单细胞测序和精确谱系追踪等新兴技术预计将促进对 SHF 功能及其分子信号的理解。SHF研究的进展将转化为临床应用和先天性心脏病（特别是圆锥干缺陷）的治疗以及再生医学。