Delayed onset of beating and decreased expression of T-type Ca2+ channel in mouse ES cell-derived cardiocytes carrying human chromosome 21

Identification, isolation and characterization of HCN4-positive pacemaking cells derived from murine embryonic stem cells during cardiac differentiation

BACKGROUND

Development of biological pacemaker is a potential treatment for bradyarrhythmias. Pacemaker cells could be extracted from differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells based on their specific cell marker hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN)4. The goal of this study was to develop a method of identification, isolation, and characterization of pacemaking cells derived from differentiated ES cells with GFP driven by HCN4 promoter.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening and southern blot analysis revealed that HCN4p-EGFP trans-gene was stably integrated into the chromosome of mouse AB1 ES cells. RT-PCR and immunostaining results showed similar expression of the specific cardiac pacemaker markers of the HCN4p-EGFP ES cells and its parental AB1 ES cell lines. Although HCN4p-EGFP trans-gene may have slight effect on the general mesodermal differentiation, it had no effect on the pluripotency of ES cells, on the transcription of cardiac specific factors and cardiac contractile proteins, and on the capability of ES cells to differentiate into pacemaker cells. Electrophysiological study indicated that HCN4p-GFP-positive cells revealed the spontaneous action potential, which was slowed by the treatment with 2 mM Cs(+), and expressed the hyperpolarization-activeted cation current I(f) encoded by HCN4 gene.

CONCLUSION

By the approach of using stable transfectant of HCN4p-EGFP gene, the identification, isolation, and characterization of ES cell-derived pacemaking cells could be carried out.

Transfer of human artificial chromosome vectors into stem cells

Human chromosome fragments and human artificial chromosomes (HAC) represent feasible gene delivery vectors via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Strategies to construct HAC involve either 'build up' or 'top-down' approaches. For each approach, techniques for manipulating HAC in donor cells in order to deliver HAC to recipient cells are required. The combination of chromosome fragments or HAC with microcell-mediated chromosome transfer has facilitated human gene mapping and various genetic studies. The recent emergence of stem cell-based tissue engineering has opened up new avenues for gene and cell therapies. The task now is to develop safe and effective vectors that can deliver therapeutic genes into specific stem cells and maintain long-term regulated expression of these genes. Although the transfer-efficiency needs to be improved, HAC possess several characteristics that are required for gene therapy vectors, including stable episomal maintenance and the capacity for large gene insets. HAC can also carry genomic loci with regulatory elements, which allow for the expression of transgenes in a genetic environment similar to the natural chromosome. This review describes the lessons and prospects learned, mainly from recent studies in developing HAC and HAC-mediated gene expression in embryonic and adult stem cells, and in transgenic animals.