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Esmaeili H, Patino-Guerrero A, Nelson RA, Karamanova N, M Fisher T, Zhu W, Perreault F, Migrino RQ, Nikkhah M. Engineered Gold and Silica Nanoparticle-Incorporated Hydrogel Scaffolds for Human Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Tissue Engineering. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:2351-2366. [PMID: 38323834 PMCID: PMC11075803 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Electrically conductive biomaterials and nanomaterials have demonstrated great potential in the development of functional and mature cardiac tissues. In particular, gold nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates due to their biocompatibility and ease of fabrication for cardiac tissue engineering utilizing rat- or stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, despite significant advancements, it is still not clear whether the enhancement in cardiac tissue function is primarily due to the electroconductivity features of gold nanoparticles or the structural changes of the scaffold resulting from the addition of these nanoparticles. To address this question, we developed nanoengineered hydrogel scaffolds comprising gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) embedded with either electrically conductive gold nanorods (GNRs) or nonconductive silica nanoparticles (SNPs). This enabled us to simultaneously assess the roles of electrically conductive and nonconductive nanomaterials in the functionality and fate of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Our studies revealed that both GNR- and SNP-incorporated hydrogel scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility and similar cardiac cell attachment. Although the expression of sarcomere alpha-actinin did not significantly differ among the conditions, a more organized sarcomere structure was observed within the GNR-embedded hydrogels compared to the nonconductive nanoengineered scaffolds. Furthermore, electrical coupling was notably improved in GNR-embedded scaffolds, as evidenced by the synchronous calcium flux and enhanced calcium transient intensity. While we did not observe a significant difference in the gene expression profile of human cardiac tissues formed on the conductive GNR- and nonconductive SNP-incorporated hydrogels, we noticed marginal improvements in the expression of some calcium and structural genes in the nanomaterial-embedded hydrogel groups as compared to the control condition. Given that the cardiac tissues formed atop the nonconductive SNP-based scaffolds (used as the control for conductivity) also displayed similar levels of gene expression as compared to the conductive hydrogels, it suggests that the electrical conductivity of nanomaterials (i.e., GNRs) may not be the sole factor influencing the function and fate of hiPSC-derived cardiac tissues when cells are cultured atop the scaffolds. Overall, our findings provide additional insights into the role of electrically conductive gold nanoparticles in regulating the functionalities of hiPSC-CMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Esmaeili
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Alejandra Patino-Guerrero
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Ronald A Nelson
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Nina Karamanova
- Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona 85022, United States
| | - Taylor M Fisher
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Wuqiang Zhu
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - François Perreault
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Raymond Q Migrino
- Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona 85022, United States
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, United States
| | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnosis, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
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Menzele A, Aboalgasm H, Ballo R, Gwanyanya A. Hyperglycaemia-induced impairment of the autorhythmicity and gap junction activity of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte-like cells. Histochem Cell Biol 2022; 159:329-337. [PMID: 36547741 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-022-02170-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus with hyperglycaemia is a major risk factor for malignant cardiac dysrhythmias. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, especially during the embryonic developmental phase of the heart. This study investigated the effect of hyperglycaemia on the pulsatile activity of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were differentiated into cardiac-like cells through embryoid body (EB) formation, in either baseline glucose or high glucose conditions. Action potentials (APs) were recorded using a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye and gap junction activity was evaluated using scrape-loading lucifer yellow dye transfer assay. Molecular components were detected using immunocytochemistry and immunoblot analyses. High glucose decreased the spontaneous beating rate of EBs and shortened the duration of onset of quinidine-induced asystole. Furthermore, it altered AP amplitude, but not AP duration, and had no impact on neither the expression of the hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated isoform 4 (HCN4) channel nor on the EB beating rate response to ivabradine nor isoprenaline. High glucose also decreased both the intercellular spread of lucifer yellow within an EB and the expression of the cardiac gap junction protein connexin 43 as well as upregulated the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated Smad3. High glucose suppressed the autorhythmicity and gap junction conduction of mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, via mechanisms probably involving TGF-β1/Smad3 signalling. The results allude to glucotoxicity related proarrhythmic effects, with potential clinical implications in foetal diabetic cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Menzele
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Hamida Aboalgasm
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Robea Ballo
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Asfree Gwanyanya
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
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3
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Aboalgasm H, Ballo R, Gwanyanya A. Organisational alteration of cardiac myofilament proteins by hyperglycaemia in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 2021; 42:419-428. [PMID: 34387802 DOI: 10.1007/s10974-021-09607-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The exposure of the developing foetal heart to hyperglycaemia in mothers with diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for foetal cardiac complications that lead to heart failure. We studied the effects of hyperglycaemia on the layout of cardiac myofilament proteins in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and their possible underlying mechanisms. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were differentiated into cardiac-like cells and cultured in media containing baseline- or high glucose concentrations. Cellular biomarkers were detected using Western blot analysis, immunocytochemistry, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assay, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay. High glucose decreased the proportion of cardiac troponin T and α-actinin 2 positive mESCs as well as disrupted the α-actinin 2 striated pattern and the distribution of the cardiac myosin heavy chain α- and β isoforms. However, there was no alteration of the cellular EdU uptake nor the expression of the receptor of advanced glycation end-product (RAGE). High glucose also increased the presence of the oxidative stress marker nitrotyrosine as well as the number of TUNEL-stained nuclei in cardiac-like cells. Treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine decreased the number of TUNEL-stained cells in high glucose and improved the α-actinin 2 striated pattern. Hyperglycaemia negatively impacted the expression and cellular organisation of cardiac myofilament proteins in mESC-derived cardiomyocytes through oxidative stress. The results add further insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiac contractile dysfunction in diabetic cardiac developmental disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamida Aboalgasm
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robea Ballo
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Asfree Gwanyanya
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Aboalgasm H, Ballo R, Mkatazo T, Gwanyanya A. Hyperglycaemia-Induced Contractile Dysfunction and Apoptosis in Cardiomyocyte-Like Pulsatile Cells Derived from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2021; 21:695-709. [PMID: 33983555 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-021-09660-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Hyperglycaemia, a key metabolic abnormality in diabetes mellitus, is implicated in pathological cardiogenesis during embryological development. However, the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets remain unknown. We, therefore, studied the effect of hyperglycaemia on mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) cardiac differentiation. The mESCs were differentiated via embryoid body (EB) formation and cultured under conditions with baseline (25 mM) or high (50 mM) glucose. Time-lapse microscopy images of pulsatile mESCs and Ca2+ transients were recorded. Biomarkers of cellular changes were detected using immunocytochemistry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and Western blot analyses. Differentiated, spontaneously beating mESCs stained positive for cardiac troponin T, α-actinin 2, myosin heavy chain, and connexin 43. Hyperglycaemia decreased the EB diameter and number of beating EBs as well as the cellular amplitude of contraction, the Ca2+ transient, and the contractile response to caffeine (1 mM), but had no effect on the expression of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase 2 (SERCA 2). Furthermore, hyperglycaemia decreased the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and increased the expression of cytoplasmic cytochrome c and the number of TUNEL-positive cells, but had no effect on the expression of one of the mitochondrial fusion regulatory proteins, optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1). Overall, hyperglycaemia suppressed the mESC cardiomyocyte-like differentiation and induced contractile dysfunction. The results are consistent with mechanisms involving abnormal Ca2+ handling and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, factors which represent potential therapeutic targets in developmental diabetic cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamida Aboalgasm
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Robea Ballo
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Thulisa Mkatazo
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Asfree Gwanyanya
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
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Uribe V, Ramadass R, Dogra D, Rasouli SJ, Gunawan F, Nakajima H, Chiba A, Reischauer S, Mochizuki N, Stainier DYR. In vivo analysis of cardiomyocyte proliferation during trabeculation. Development 2018; 145:145/14/dev164194. [PMID: 30061167 DOI: 10.1242/dev.164194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiomyocyte proliferation is crucial for cardiac growth, patterning and regeneration; however, few studies have investigated the behavior of dividing cardiomyocytes in vivo Here, we use time-lapse imaging of beating hearts in combination with the FUCCI system to monitor the behavior of proliferating cardiomyocytes in developing zebrafish. Confirming in vitro observations, sarcomere disassembly, as well as changes in cell shape and volume, precede cardiomyocyte cytokinesis. Notably, cardiomyocytes in zebrafish embryos and young larvae mostly divide parallel to the myocardial wall in both the compact and trabecular layers, and cardiomyocyte proliferation is more frequent in the trabecular layer. While analyzing known regulators of cardiomyocyte proliferation, we observed that the Nrg/ErbB2 and TGFβ signaling pathways differentially affect compact and trabecular layer cardiomyocytes, indicating that distinct mechanisms drive proliferation in these two layers. In summary, our data indicate that, in zebrafish, cardiomyocyte proliferation is essential for trabecular growth, but not initiation, and set the stage to further investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte proliferation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Uribe
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Radhan Ramadass
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Deepika Dogra
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - S Javad Rasouli
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Felix Gunawan
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Hiroyuki Nakajima
- Department of Cell Biology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Ayano Chiba
- Department of Cell Biology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Naoki Mochizuki
- Department of Cell Biology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany
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6
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Smith AST, Yoo H, Yi H, Ahn EH, Lee JH, Shao G, Nagornyak E, Laflamme MA, Murry CE, Kim DH. Micro- and nano-patterned conductive graphene-PEG hybrid scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018. [PMID: 28634611 DOI: 10.1039/c7cc01988b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A lack of electrical conductivity and structural organization in currently available biomaterial scaffolds limits their utility for generating physiologically representative models of functional cardiac tissue. Here we report on the development of scalable, graphene-functionalized topographies with anisotropic electrical conductivity for engineering the structural and functional phenotypes of macroscopic cardiac tissue constructs. Guided by anisotropic electroconductive and topographic cues, the tissue constructs displayed structural property enhancement in myofibrils and sarcomeres, and exhibited significant increases in the expression of cell-cell coupling and calcium handling proteins, as well as in action potential duration and peak calcium release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec S T Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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7
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Wanjare M, Huang NF. Regulation of the microenvironment for cardiac tissue engineering. Regen Med 2017; 12:187-201. [PMID: 28244821 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2016-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The microenvironment of myocardium plays an important role in the fate and function of cardiomyocytes (CMs). Cardiovascular tissue engineering strategies commonly utilize stem cell sources in conjunction with microenvironmental cues that often include biochemical, electrical, spatial and biomechanical factors. Microenvironmental stimulation of CMs, in addition to the incorporation of intercellular interactions from non-CMs, results in the generation of engineered cardiac constructs. Current studies suggest that use of these factors when engineering cardiac constructs improve cardiac function when implanted in vivo. In this review, we summarize the approaches to modulate biochemical, electrical, biomechanical and spatial factors to induce CM differentiation and their subsequent organization for cardiac tissue engineering application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Wanjare
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ngan F Huang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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8
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Kokkinopoulos I, Ishida H, Saba R, Coppen S, Suzuki K, Yashiro K. Cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells using a simple and defined protocol. Dev Dyn 2015; 245:157-65. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Kokkinopoulos
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
| | - Hidekazu Ishida
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
| | - Rie Saba
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
| | - Steven Coppen
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
| | - Ken Suzuki
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
| | - Kenta Yashiro
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square; London United Kingdom
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9
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Wu Q, Zhang J, Koh W, Yu Q, Zhu X, Amsterdam A, Davis GE, Arnaout MA, Xiong JW. Talin1 is required for cardiac Z-disk stabilization and endothelial integrity in zebrafish. FASEB J 2015; 29:4989-5005. [PMID: 26310270 DOI: 10.1096/fj.15-273409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Talin (tln) binds and activates integrins to couple extracellular matrix-bound integrins to the cytoskeleton; however, its role in heart development is not well characterized. We identified the defective gene and the resulting cardiovascular phenotypes in zebrafish tln1(fl02k) mutants. The ethylnitrosourea-induced fl02k mutant showed heart failure, brain hemorrhage, and diminished cardiac and vessel lumens at 52 h post fertilization. Positional cloning revealed a nonsense mutation of tln1 in this mutant. tln1, but neither tln2 nor -2a, was dominantly expressed in the heart and vessels. Unlike tln1 and -2 in the mouse heart, the unique tln1 expression in the heart enabled us, for the first time, to determine the critical roles of Tln1 in the maintenance of cardiac sarcomeric Z-disks and endothelial/endocardial cell integrity, partly through regulating F-actin networks in zebrafish. The similar expression profiles of tln1 and integrin β1b (itgb1b) and synergistic function of the 2 genes revealed that itgb1b is a potential partner for tln1 in the stabilization of cardiac Z-disks and vessel lumens. Taken together, the results of this work suggest that Tln1-mediated Itgβ1b plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiac sarcomeric Z-disks and endothelial/endocardial cell integrity in zebrafish and may also help to gain molecular insights into congenital heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Wu
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wonshill Koh
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Qingming Yu
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adam Amsterdam
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - George E Davis
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Amin Arnaout
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing-Wei Xiong
- *Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, China; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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McKeown CR, Nowak RB, Gokhin DS, Fowler VM. Tropomyosin is required for cardiac morphogenesis, myofibril assembly, and formation of adherens junctions in the developing mouse embryo. Dev Dyn 2014; 243:800-17. [PMID: 24500875 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We explored a function for tropomyosin (TM) in mammalian myofibril assembly and cardiac development by analyzing a deletion in the mouse TPM1 gene targeting αTM1, the major striated muscle TM isoform. RESULTS Mice lacking αTM1 are embryonic lethal at E9.5 with enlarged, misshapen, and non-beating hearts characterized by an abnormally thin myocardium and reduced trabeculae. αTM1-deficient cardiomyocytes do not assemble striated myofibrils, instead displaying aberrant non-striated F-actin fibrils with α-actinin puncta dispersed irregularly along their lengths. αTM1's binding partner, tropomodulin1 (Tmod1), is also disorganized, and both myomesin-containing thick filaments as well as titin Z1Z2 fail to assemble in a striated pattern. Adherens junctions are reduced in size in αTM1-deficient cardiomyocytes, α-actinin/F-actin adherens belts fail to assemble at apical cell-cell contacts, and cell contours are highly irregular, resulting in abnormal cell shapes and a highly folded cardiac surface. In addition, Tmod1-deficient cardiomyocytes exhibit failure of α-actinin/F-actin adherens belt assembly. CONCLUSIONS Absence of αTM1 resulting in unstable F-actin may preclude sarcomere formation and/or lead to degeneration of partially assembled sarcomeres due to unregulated actomyosin interactions. Our data also identify a novel αTM1/Tmod1-based pathway stabilizing F-actin at cell-cell junctions, which may be required for maintenance of cell shapes during embryonic cardiac morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline R McKeown
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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11
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Parameswaran S, Kumar S, Verma RS, Sharma RK. Cardiomyocyte culture - an update on the in vitro cardiovascular model and future challenges. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2013; 91:985-98. [PMID: 24289068 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2013-0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The success of any work with isolated cardiomyocytes depends on the reproducibility of cell isolation, because the cells do not divide. To date, there is no suitable in vitro model to study human adult cardiac cell biology. Although embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are able to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro, the efficiency of this process is low. Isolation and expansion of human cardiomyocyte progenitor cells from cardiac surgical waste or, alternatively, from fetal heart tissue is another option. However, to overcome various issues related to human tissue usage, especially ethical concerns, researchers use large- and small-animal models to study cardiac pathophysiology. A simple model to study the changes at the cellular level is cultures of cardiomyocytes. Although primary murine cardiomyocyte cultures have their own advantages and drawbacks, alternative strategies have been developed in the last two decades to minimise animal usage and interspecies differences. This review discusses the use of freshly isolated murine cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocyte alternatives for use in cardiac disease models and other related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreejit Parameswaran
- a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada
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12
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Icariin induces mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation into beating functional cardiomyocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 2010; 349:117-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s11010-010-0666-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Accepted: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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13
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Koseki N, Deguchi J, Yamada T, Funabashi H, Seki T. Usefulness of field potential as a marker of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and endpoint analysis of embryonic stem cell test. J Toxicol Sci 2010; 35:899-909. [DOI: 10.2131/jts.35.899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Naoteru Koseki
- Safety Research Laboratories, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
| | - Jiro Deguchi
- Safety Research Laboratories, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
| | - Toru Yamada
- Safety Research Laboratories, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
| | | | - Takaki Seki
- Safety Research Laboratories, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd
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14
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Perino MG, Yamanaka S, Li J, Wobus AM, Boheler KR. Cardiomyogenic stem and progenitor cell plasticity and the dissection of cardiopoiesis. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2008; 45:475-94. [PMID: 18565538 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2008.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2008] [Revised: 04/04/2008] [Accepted: 05/02/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies hold promise of repairing an injured heart, and the description of stem and progenitor cells with cardiomyogenic potential is critical to its realization. At the vanguard of these efforts are analyses of embryonic stem cells, which clearly have the capacity to generate large numbers of cardiomyocytes in vitro. Through the use of this model system, a number of signaling mechanisms have been worked out that describes at least partially the process of cardiopoiesis. Studies on adult stem and on progenitor cells with cardiomyogenic potential are still in their infancy, and much less is known about the molecular signals that are required to induce the differentiation to cardiomyocytes. It is also unclear whether the pathways are similar or different between embryonic and adult cell-induced cardiomyogenesis, partly because of the continued controversies that surround the stem cell theory of cardiac self-renewal. Irrespective of any perceived or actual limitations, the study of stem and progenitor cells has provided important insights into the process of cardiomyogenesis, and it is likely that future research in this area will turn the promise of repairing an injured heart into a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Perino
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore MD 21224, USA
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15
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Guan K, Hasenfuss G. Do stem cells in the heart truly differentiate into cardiomyocytes? J Mol Cell Cardiol 2007; 43:377-87. [PMID: 17716688 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2007.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2007] [Revised: 07/18/2007] [Accepted: 07/20/2007] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common consequence of heart muscle or valve damage and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are increasing interests to treat cardiac failure by stem cell-based therapy. Many types of stem cells or progenitor cells have been suggested for cellular therapy of heart failure. While stem cell-based therapy was initially thought to be achieved by transdifferentiation of stem cells into myocardial cells including cardiomyocytes it has become clear that this may be rather an infrequent event. Instead cardiac regeneration may result from vascular differentiation of stem cells or even from stem cell-mediated reverse remodelling. Thus the term stem cell-mediated cardiac regeneration covers the spectrum from stem cell transdifferentiation into cardiomyocytes to cell-mediated pharmacotherapy. In this review we revise stem cell-based cardiac regeneration both in experimental models and in clinical application. We have limited our discussion on some selected types of stem cells, with particular emphasis on their differentiation potential, current status and perspectives on their future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaomei Guan
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Heart Centre, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Adler S, Pellizzer C, Hareng L, Hartung T, Bremer S. First steps in establishing a developmental toxicity test method based on human embryonic stem cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2007; 22:200-11. [PMID: 17961973 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2007.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2007] [Revised: 07/13/2007] [Accepted: 07/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The use of embryonic stem cells is currently the most promising approach to assess developmental toxicity in vitro. In addition, the possibility of using human embryonic stem (hES) cells will increase safety of consumers and patients as false classification of substances due to inter-species variations can be avoided. One validated test based on murine embryonic stem cells, the embryonic stem cell test (EST), consists of following endpoints: IC(50) values of fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells as well as the inhibition of differentiation of mES cells into cardiomyocytes. As a follow up of its successful validation study we established a cytotoxicity assay based on hES cells and human fibroblasts employing two developmental toxicants: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and all-trans retinoic acid (RA). The results were compared to historical data from the EST. For 5-FU, no significant differences were obtained between the different cell lines. However, for RA, both test systems produced higher IC(50) values for the fibroblasts than for the stem cells, which is a well-known effect of developmental toxicants. Moreover, the reliability and relevance of several marker genes as possible toxicological endpoints were tested. During early differentiation Oct-4, hTert and Dusp6 showed the most reliable results. Brachyury and GATA-4 were found to be best suited to monitor cardiac differentiation. The late cardiac marker gene TNNT2 demonstrated significant results until day 18. Therefore, these marker genes have the highest potential to serve as endpoints for a developmental toxicity test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Adler
- ECVAM, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Via E. Fermi 1, 21020 Ispra (VA), Italy.
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17
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Guan K, Wagner S, Unsöld B, Maier LS, Kaiser D, Hemmerlein B, Nayernia K, Engel W, Hasenfuss G. Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes From Adult Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells. Circ Res 2007; 100:1615-25. [PMID: 17478732 DOI: 10.1161/01.res.0000269182.22798.d9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell–based therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of heart failure. Adult stem cells with the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) would be an ideal cell source. Recently, we reported the successful establishment of multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs) from mouse testis. These cultured maGSCs show phenotypic characteristics similar to ESCs and can spontaneously differentiate into cells from all 3 germ layers. In the present study, we used the hanging drop method to differentiate maGSCs into cardiomyocytes and analyzed their functional properties. Differentiation efficiency of beating cardiomyocytes from maGSCs was similar to that from ESCs. The maGSC-derived cardiomyocytes expressed cardiac-specific L-type Ca
2+
channels and responded to Ca
2+
channel–modulating drugs. Cx43 was expressed at cell-to-cell contacts in cardiac clusters, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay showed the presence of functional gap junctions among cardiomyocytes. Action potential analyses demonstrated the presence of pacemaker-, ventricle-, atrial-, and Purkinje-like cardiomyocytes. Stimulation with isoproterenol resulted in a significant increase in beating frequency, whereas the addition of cadmium chloride abolished spontaneous electrical activity. Confocal microscopy analysis of intracellular Ca
2+
in maGSC-derived cardiomyocytes showed that calcium increased periodically throughout the cell in a homogenous fashion, pointing to a fine regulated Ca
2+
release from intracellular Ca
2+
stores. By using line-scan mode, we found rhythmic Ca
2+
transients. Furthermore, we transplanted maGSCs into normal hearts of mice and found that maGSCs were able to proliferate and differentiate. No tumor formation was found up to 1 month after cell transplantation. Taken together, we believe that maGSCs provide a new source of distinct types of cardiomyocytes for basic research and potential therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaomei Guan
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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18
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Hosseinkhani M, Hasegawa K, Ono K, Kawamura T, Takaya T, Morimoto T, Wada H, Shimatsu A, Prat SG, Suemori H, Nakatsuji N, Kita T. Trichostatin A induces myocardial differentiation of monkey ES cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 356:386-91. [PMID: 17368572 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.02.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Accepted: 02/23/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines are one of the possible sources of cardiac myocytes to be transplanted in patients with end-staged heart failure. However, prior to the application of human of ES cells for heart failure therapy, it is critical to validate their clinical use in large animals such as primates. Cynomolgus monkey ES cells have similar properties to human ES cells and can be used for primate studies. We demonstrate that 24-h stimulation by a histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) facilitated myocardial differentiation of monkey ES cells with embryonic bodies that were seeded on gelatin-coated dishes. TSA-induced acetylating of histone-3/4 and expression of p300, one of the intrinsic histone acetyltransferases. Thus, such induction as well as inhibition of histone deacetylase may be involved in TSA-induced differentiation of cynomolgus monkey ES cells into cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Hosseinkhani
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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19
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Franke WW, Schumacher H, Borrmann CM, Grund C, Winter-Simanowski S, Schlechter T, Pieperhoff S, Hofmann I. The area composita of adhering junctions connecting heart muscle cells of vertebrates – III: Assembly and disintegration of intercalated disks in rat cardiomyocytes growing in culture. Eur J Cell Biol 2007; 86:127-42. [PMID: 17275137 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2006.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2006] [Revised: 11/23/2006] [Accepted: 11/24/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For cell and molecular biological studies of heart formation and function cell cultures of embryonal, neonatal or adult hearts of various vertebrates, notably rat and chicken, have been widely used. As the myocardium-specific cell-cell junctions, the intercalated disks (ID), have recently been found to be particularly sensitive to losses of - or mutations in - certain cytoskeletal proteins, resulting in cardiac damages, we have examined the ID organization in primary cultures of cardiomyocytes obtained from neonatal rats. Using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, we have studied the major ID components for up to 2 weeks in culture, paying special attention to spontaneously beating, individual cardiomyocytes and myocardial cell colonies. While our results demonstrate the formation of some ID-like cardiomyocyte-connecting junction arrays, they also reveal a variety of structural disorders such as rather extended, junction-free ID regions, sac-like invaginations and endocytotic blebs as well as accumulations of intracytoplasmic structures suggestive of endocytosed forms of junction-derived vesicles or of junction fragments resembling fascia adhaerens elements. Moreover, we have noticed a novel type of small, obviously plaque-free cytoplasmic vesicles containing one or both of the desmosomal cadherins, desmocollin Dsc2 and desmoglein Dsg2. We conclude that cardiomyocyte cultures are useful model systems for studies of certain aspects of myocardiac differentiation and functions but, on the other hand, show progressive disintegration and deterioration. The potential value of molecular markers and reagents in studies of myocardial pathology as well as in the monitoring of myocardial differentiation of so-called stem cells is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner W Franke
- Division of Cell Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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20
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Moll R, Holzhausen HJ, Mennel HD, Kuhn C, Baumann R, Taege C, Franke WW. The cardiac isoform of α-actin in regenerating and atrophic skeletal muscle, myopathies and rhabdomyomatous tumors: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies. Virchows Arch 2006; 449:175-91. [PMID: 16715231 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-006-0220-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2005] [Accepted: 04/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The two sarcomeric isoforms of actins, cardiac and skeletal muscle alpha-actin, are highly homologous so that their immunohistochemical distinction is extremely difficult. Taking advantage of monoclonal antibodies distinguishing the two conservative amino acid exchanges near the aminoterminus, we have performed an extended immunohistochemical analysis of the cardiac alpha-actin (CAA) isoform in normal, regenerating, diseased and neoplastic human muscle tissues. Intense and uniform CAA staining is seen in fetal and adult myocardium and in fetal skeletal muscle while adult skeletal muscle is essentially negative, except for muscle spindle myocytes and a few scattered muscle fibres with overall reduced diameter. By contrast, CAA synthesis is markedly induced in regenerating skeletal muscle cells, in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and upon degenerative atrophy. CAA has also been detected in certain vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells. Among tumors, CAA has consistently been seen in rhabdomyosarcomas and rhabdomyomatous cells of nephroblastomas, whereas, smooth muscle tumors have shown only occasional staining. While the synthesis of this actin isoform is less restricted than previously thought, monoclonal antibodies against CAA provide a well-defined, reliable and sensitive diagnostic tool for the definition and detection of aberrant differentiation in diseased skeletal muscle and of striated muscle differentiation in rhabdomyosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Moll
- Institute of Pathology, Philipp University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, D-35033 Marburg, Germany.
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21
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Ebert R, Ulmer M, Zeck S, Meissner-Weigl J, Schneider D, Stopper H, Schupp N, Kassem M, Jakob F. Selenium Supplementation Restores the Antioxidative Capacity and Prevents Cell Damage in Bone Marrow Stromal Cells In Vitro. Stem Cells 2006; 24:1226-35. [PMID: 16424399 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and other cell populations derived from mesenchymal precursors are developed for cell-based therapeutic strategies and undergo cellular stress during ex vivo procedures. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cellular and environmental origin are involved in redox signaling, cumulative cell damage, senescence, and tumor development. Selenium-dependent (glutathione peroxidases [GPxs] and thioredoxin reductases [TrxRs]) and selenium-independent (superoxide dismutases [SODs] and catalase [CAT]) enzyme systems regulate cellular ROS steady state levels. SODs process superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide, which is subsequently neutralized by GPx and CAT; TrxR neutralizes other ROS, such as peroxinitrite. Primary BMSCs and telomerase-immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-TERT) express GPx1-3, TrxR1, TrxR2, SOD1, SOD2, and CAT. We show here that in standard cell cultures (5%-10% fetal calf serum, 5-10 nM selenite), the activity of antioxidative selenoenzymes is impaired in hMSC-TERT and BMSCs. Under these conditions, the superoxide anion processing enzyme SOD1 is not sufficiently stimulated by an ROS load. Resulting oxidative stress favors generation of micronuclei in BMSCs. Supplementation of selenite (100 nM) restores basal GPx and TrxR activity, rescues basal and ROS-stimulated SOD1 mRNA expression and activity, and reduces ROS accumulation in hMSC-TERT and micronuclei generation in BMSCs. In conclusion, BMSCs in routine cell culture have low antioxidative capacity and are subjected to oxidative stress, as indicated by the generation of micronuclei. Selenite supplementation of BMSC cultures appears to be an important countermeasure to restore their antioxidative capacity and to reduce cell damage in the context of tissue engineering and transplantation procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Ebert
- Musculosceletal Research Center, Orthopaedic Department, University of Würzburg, Brettreichstrasse 11, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
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22
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Bettiol E, Clement S, Krause KH, Jaconi ME. Embryonic and adult stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: lessons from in vitro models. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2006; 157:1-30. [PMID: 17236648 DOI: 10.1007/112_0508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For years, research has focused on how to treat heart failure by sustaining the overloaded remaining cardiomyocytes. Recently, the concept of cell replacement therapy as a treatment of heart diseases has opened a new area of investigation. In vitro-generated cardiomyocytes could be injected into the heart to rescue the function of a damaged myocardium. Embryonic and/or adult stem cells could provide cardiac cells for this purpose. Knowledge of fundamental cardiac differentiation mechanisms unraveled by studies on animal models has been improved using in vitro models of cardiogenesis such as mouse embryonal carcinoma cells, mouse embryonic stem cells and, recently, human embryonic stem cells. On the other hand, studies suggesting the existence of cardiac stem cells and the potential of adult stem cells from bone marrow or skeletal muscle to differentiate toward unexpected phenotypes raise hope and questions about their potential use for cardiac cell therapy. In this review, we compare the specificities of embryonic vs adult stem cell populations regarding their cardiac differentiation potential, and we give an overview of what in vitro models have taught us about cardiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bettiol
- University of Geneva, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland
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23
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Zhu D, Qu L, Zhang X, Lou Y. Icariin-mediated modulation of cell cycle and p53 during cardiomyocyte differentiation in embryonic stem cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2005; 514:99-110. [PMID: 15878162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2004] [Revised: 03/07/2005] [Accepted: 03/21/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible inducible effects and to clarify the modulation by icariin of cell cycle and p53 expression in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro. Embryonic stem cells were cultivated as embryoid bodies in hanging drops and induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by icariin at 10(-7) M. Cardiomyocytes were characterized by the expression of sarcomeric proteins, alpha-actinin and cardiac troponin T, by immunocytochemistry. Flow cytometry revealed that 10(-7) M icariin treatment for 48 h significantly induced the accumulation of cells in G0/G1 and reduced the proportion of cells in S phase. A marked increase in apoptosis rate was observed 48 h after icariin treatment. Icariin resulted in significantly increased expressions of p53 mRNA and protein, as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. During day 7+0 and 7+9 cardiac developmental stage, 10(-7) M icariin increased the level of p53 mRNA, but caused a parallel decrease in the level of p53 protein. In conclusion, icariin at 10(-7) M facilitated the directional differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Results showed p53 to be an important regulator in the differentiation in embryonic stem cells treated with 10(-7) M icariin, controlling or adjusting the balance between differentiated cells and cells undergoing apoptosis.
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MESH Headings
- Acridine Orange
- Actinin/metabolism
- Animals
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Cycle/drug effects
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Line
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Embryo, Mammalian/cytology
- Ethidium
- Flavonoids/pharmacology
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- Gene Expression/drug effects
- Mice
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology
- Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Stem Cells/cytology
- Stem Cells/drug effects
- Stem Cells/metabolism
- Time Factors
- Tretinoin/pharmacology
- Troponin T/metabolism
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyan Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China
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24
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Wobus AM, Boheler KR. Embryonic stem cells: prospects for developmental biology and cell therapy. Physiol Rev 2005; 85:635-78. [PMID: 15788707 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00054.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 531] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells represent natural units of embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, in particular, possess a nearly unlimited self-renewal capacity and developmental potential to differentiate into virtually any cell type of an organism. Mouse ES cells, which are established as permanent cell lines from early embryos, can be regarded as a versatile biological system that has led to major advances in cell and developmental biology. Human ES cell lines, which have recently been derived, may additionally serve as an unlimited source of cells for regenerative medicine. Before therapeutic applications can be realized, important problems must be resolved. Ethical issues surround the derivation of human ES cells from in vitro fertilized blastocysts. Current techniques for directed differentiation into somatic cell populations remain inefficient and yield heterogeneous cell populations. Transplanted ES cell progeny may not function normally in organs, might retain tumorigenic potential, and could be rejected immunologically. The number of human ES cell lines available for research may also be insufficient to adequately determine their therapeutic potential. Recent molecular and cellular advances with mouse ES cells, however, portend the successful use of these cells in therapeutics. This review therefore focuses both on mouse and human ES cells with respect to in vitro propagation and differentiation as well as their use in basic cell and developmental biology and toxicology and presents prospects for human ES cells in tissue regeneration and transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Wobus
- In Vitro Differentiation Group, IPK Gatersleben, Germany.
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25
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Zhu DY, Lou YJ. Inducible effects of icariin, icaritin, and desmethylicaritin on directional differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2005; 26:477-85. [PMID: 15780198 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2005.00076.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the possible inducible effects of icariin, icaritin, and desmethylicaritin on the directional differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro. METHODS ES cells were cultivated as embryoid bodies (EBs) in hanging drops with icariin, icaritin, or desmethylicaritin. ES cells treated with retinoic acid and with solvent were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The cardiomyocytes derived from the ES cells were verified using immunocytochemistry. The expression of cardiac developmental-dependent genes was detected using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry to determine the partly inducible effect mechanisms involved. RESULTS The total percentage of beating EBs treated with 10(-7) mol/L icariin, icaritin, or desmethylicaritin was 87% (P<0.01), 59% (P<0.01), and 49%, respectively. All the beating cardiomyocytes derived from the ES cells expressed cardiac-specific proteins for a-actinin and troponin T. Among them, 10(-7) mol/L icariin treatment resulted in a significantly advanced and increased mRNA level of a-cardiac major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and myosin light chain 2v (MLC-2v) in EBs in the early cardiac developmental stage. Before shifting to the cardiomyocyte phenotype, icariin could evoke the accumulation of ES cells in G0/G1 and accelerate apoptosis of the cell population (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Icariin facilitated the directional differentiation of ES cells into cardiomyocytes at a concentration of 10(-7) mol/L. The promoting effect of icariin on cardiac differentiation was related to increasing and accelerating gene expression of a-cardiac MHC and MLC-2v, as well as regulating the cell cycles and inducing apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-yan Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China
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26
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Abstract
Cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion is crucial for control of cell behavior. It connects the ECM to the intracellular cytoskeleton and transduces bidirectional signals between the extracellular and intracellular compartments. The subcellular machinery that mediates cell-ECM adhesion and signaling is complex. It consists of transmembrane proteins (e.g., integrins) and at least several dozens of membrane-proximal proteins that assemble into a network through multiple protein interactions. Furthermore, despite sharing certain common components, cell-ECM adhesions exhibit considerable heterogeneity in different types of cells (e.g., the cell-ECM adhesions in cardiac myocytes are considerably different from those in fibroblasts). Here, we will first briefly describe the general properties of the integrin-mediated cell-ECM adhesion and signal transduction. Next, we will focus on one of the recently discovered cell-ECM adhesion protein complexes consisting of PINCH, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), and Parvin and use it as an example to illustrate the molecular basis underlying the assembly and functions of cell-ECM adhesions. Finally, we will discuss in detail the structure and regulation of cell-ECM adhesion complexes in cardiac myocytes, which illustrate the importance and complexity of the cell-ECM adhesion structures in organogenesis and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge L Sepulveda
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
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27
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Seiler A, Visan A, Buesen R, Genschow E, Spielmann H. Improvement of an in vitro stem cell assay for developmental toxicity: the use of molecular endpoints in the embryonic stem cell test. Reprod Toxicol 2004; 18:231-40. [PMID: 15019721 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2003.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2003] [Revised: 09/05/2003] [Accepted: 10/24/2003] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The embryonic stem cell test (EST) takes advantage of the potential of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate in culture to test embryotoxicity in vitro. The EST represents a reliable, scientifically validated in vitro system for the classification of compounds according to their teratogenic potential based on the morphological analysis of beating cardiomyocytes in embryoid body (EB) outgrowths compared to cytotoxic effects on undifferentiated murine ES cells and differentiated 3T3 fibroblasts. In order to identify more objective endpoints of differentiation other than the microscopic evaluation of "beating areas" and to adapt the EST to applications in high-throughput screening systems we improved and expanded the EST protocol by establishing molecular endpoints of differentiation. The quantitative expression of sarcomeric myosin heavy chain (MHC) and alpha-actinin genes under the influence of test compounds was studied employing intracellular flow cytometry. Strong embryotoxicants exerted a dose-dependent effect on both the expression levels of MHC and alpha-actinin and the differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, quantitative FACS (fluorescence-activating cell sorting) analysis showed the same sensitivity for the classification of substances as the conventional endpoint but allowed a significant reduction of the test period. Within 7 days, maximal expression of sarcomeric marker proteins was observed. Our findings indicate that structural proteins of the sarcomere apparatus, alpha-actinin and myosin heavy chain (MHC), seem to be promising candidates to predict developmental toxicity in vivo from in vitro data. Thus, the improved EST holds promise as a new predictive screen for risk assessment with respect to developmental toxicity using stem cell technology and technological advances in the field of gene expression analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Seiler
- National Center for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET), Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin 12277, Germany.
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28
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Chang KH, Zandstra PW. Quantitative screening of embryonic stem cell differentiation: Endoderm formation as a model. Biotechnol Bioeng 2004; 88:287-98. [PMID: 15486933 DOI: 10.1002/bit.20242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells have attracted much attention as a possible source of functional cells for regenerative medicine. Therapeutic use of ES cells requires control over the types and frequencies of cells generated during their in vitro differentiation. Due to the complexity of factors that impact upon ES cell differentiation, novel approaches for the optimization of tissue-specific development are required. This motivates our use of factorial and composite design methods to make empirical investigations more efficient, and to reveal unexpected interactions missed by conventional dose-response analysis. Factorial experiments would benefit from the high content evaluation of a large number of test conditions, necessitating the development of a quantitative screening technology (QST) capable of reporting the absolute number and frequency of target cells. We have developed and validated such a technology for ES cell differentiation analysis using automated fluorescence microscopy, employing endoderm differentiation as a model system. To test this platform, a two-level factorial experiment was carried out to identify major and interactive effects of glucose, insulin, retinoic acid (RA), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on endoderm formation. RA was found to have inhibitory effects on endoderm formation, while low glucose proved beneficial. QST was demonstrated to be a powerful tool to study factors impacting endoderm-specific ES cell differentiation, and should be applicable to the analysis of a range of ES cell-derived tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen H Chang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Room 407, Rosebrugh Building, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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Caspi O, Gepstein L. Potential Applications of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2004; 1015:285-98. [PMID: 15201168 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1302.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The recent establishment of the human embryonic stem cell lines and the demonstration of their ability to differentiate in vitro to cardiomyocytes brings a unique promise to both basic and clinical research. The present report describes the characteristics of the human embryonic stem cell lines and focuses on the structural and functional properties of their cardiomyocyte derivatives. In addition, the possible signals and cues involved in the commitment and early differentiation of cardiomyocytes will be discussed. Finally, the potential applications of this unique differentiating system in several research and clinical areas are discussed, with special emphasis on the steps required to fully harness their potential for myocardial regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Caspi
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Bruce Rapport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
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30
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Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a global cause of mortality and morbidity. Current treatments fail to address the underlying scarring and cell loss, which are the causes of ischaemic heart failure. Cellular transplantation can overcome these problems and new impetus has been injected into this field following the isolation of human embryonic and adult stem cells. These cells have shown remarkable ability to produce cardiomyocytes and vascular cells in vitro and in vivo. Initial transplantation studies have demonstrated functional benefits and it is hoped further randomised clinical trials will concur with initial findings. Much basic science remains to be unearthed, such as the signals for homing, differentiation and engraftment of transplanted cells. Further matters of concern are the role of cell fusion and the mechanisms by which transplanted cells improve cardiac function. In spite of initial progress made in stem cell therapy there is still much to be done and we are some way off from achieving the goal of effective cellular regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Lovell
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London, London, UK.
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31
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Lee S, Bick-Forrester J, Makkar RR, Forrester JS. Stem-Cell Repair of Infarcted Myocardium: Ready for Clinical Application? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 2:100-6. [PMID: 15604853 DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-9215.2004.03436.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In cell culture, adult bone marrow stem cells can develop the phenotypic characteristics of myocytes and endothelial cells, and express myocyte-specific and endothelium-specific proteins. In subsequent animal laboratory studies and early clinical trials, stem cells have been delivered to infarcted myocardium by direct injection, by intravascular injection, and by bone marrow stimulation. In animals, myocyte apoptosis is reduced, capillary density increases, and regional perfusion increases accompanied by a decrease in infarct size. Early clinical trials indicate that a variety of approaches is technically feasible and safe in the short term. The trials suggest that stem-cell therapy may induce a modest preservation of cardiac function. The methodology for clinical application of stem-cell therapy currently exists in most large heart hospitals. Nonetheless, until theoretical and practical limitations are resolved, it seems prudent to confine this therapy to randomized clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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32
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Snir M, Kehat I, Gepstein A, Coleman R, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Livne E, Gepstein L. Assessment of the ultrastructural and proliferative properties of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2003; 285:H2355-63. [PMID: 14613910 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00020.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Assessment of early ultrastructural development and cell-cycle regulation in human cardiac tissue is significantly hampered by the lack of a suitable in vitro model. Here we describe the possible utilization of human embryonic stem cell (ES) lines for investigation of these processes. With the use of the embryoid body (EB) differentiation system, human ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes at different developmental stages were isolated and their histomorphometric, ultrastructural, and proliferative properties were characterized. Histomorphometric analysis revealed an increase in cell length, area, and length-to-width ratio in late-stage EBs (>35 days) compared with early (10–21 days) and intermediate (21–35 days) stages. This was coupled with a progressive ultrastructural development from an irregular myofibrillar distribution to an organized sarcomeric pattern. Cardiomyocyte proliferation, assessed by double labeling with cardiac-specific antibodies and either [3H]thymidine incorporation or Ki-67 immunolabeling, demonstrated a gradual withdrawal from cell cycle. Hence, the percentage of positively stained nuclei in early-stage cardiomyocytes ([3H]thymidine: 60 ± 10%, Ki-67: 54 ± 23%) decreased to 36 ± 7% and 9 ± 16% in intermediate-stage EBs and to <1% in late-stage cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, a reproducible temporal pattern of early cardiomyocyte proliferation, cell-cycle withdrawal, and ultrastructural maturation was noted in this model. Establishment of this unique in vitro surrogate system may allow to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes and to assess interventions aiming to modify these properties. Moreover, the detailed characterization of the ES cell-derived cardiomyocyte may be crucial for the development of future cell replacement strategies aiming to regenerate functional myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirit Snir
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rambam Medical Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 31096 Haifa, Israel
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33
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Forrester
- Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif 90048, USA.
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34
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Banach K, Halbach MD, Hu P, Hescheler J, Egert U. Development of electrical activity in cardiac myocyte aggregates derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2003; 284:H2114-23. [PMID: 12573993 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.01106.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells differentiate into cardiac myocytes, repeating in vitro the structural and molecular changes associated with cardiac development. Currently, it is not clear whether the electrophysiological properties of the multicellular cardiac structure follow cardiac maturation as well. In long-term recordings of extracellular field potentials with microelectrode arrays consisting of 60 substrate-integrated electrodes, we examined the electrophysiological properties during the ongoing differentiation process. The beating frequency of the growing preparations increased from 1 to 5 Hz concomitant to a decrease of the action potential duration and action potential rise time. A developmental increase of the conduction velocity could be attributed to an increased expression of connexin43 gap junction channels. Whereas isoprenalin elicited a positive chronotropic response from the first day of spontaneous beating onward, a concentration-dependent negative chronotropic effect of carbachol only developed after approximately 4 days. The in vitro development of the three-dimensional cardiac preparation thus closely follows the development described for the mouse embryonic heart, making it an ideal model to monitor the differentiation of electrical activity in embryonic cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Banach
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
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35
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Abstract
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cell lines that are derived from the blastocyst-stage early mammalian embryo. These unique cells are characterized by their capacity for prolonged undifferentiated proliferation in culture while maintaining the potential to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers. During in vitro differentiation, embryonic stem cells can develop into specialized somatic cells, including cardiomyocytes, and have been shown to recapitulate many processes of early embryonic development. The present review describes the derivation and unique properties of the recently described human embryonic stem cells as well as the properties of cardiomyocytes derived using this unique differentiating system. The possible applications of this system in several cardiac research areas, including developmental biology, functional genomics, pharmacological testing, cell therapy, and tissue engineering, are discussed. Because of their combined ability to proliferate indefinitely and to differentiate to mature tissue types, human embryonic stem cells can potentially provide an unlimited supply of cardiomyocytes for cell therapy procedures aiming to regenerate functional myocardium. However, many obstacles must still be overcome on the way to successful clinical utilization of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lior Gepstein
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, and Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
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36
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Abstract
Augmentation of myocardial performance in experimental models of therapeutic infarction and heart failure has been achieved by the transplantation of exogenous cells into damaged myocardium, a procedure known as cellular cardiomyoplasty (CCM). Historically, a wide range of cell types have been used for CCM, including rat and human fetal ventricular myocytes, but the availability of human fetal donor cells for clinical purposes is limited. The quest for suitable alternative donor cells has prompted research into the use of both embryonic stem (ES) cells and adult somatic stem cells, but the optimal choice of donor cell source is not yet known. Recently, there has been a growing body of evidence that multipotent somatic stem cells in adult bone marrow exhibit tremendous functional plasticity and can reprogramme in a new environmental tissue niche to give rise to cell lineages specific for the new organ site. This phenomenon has made a huge impact on myocardial biology and has captured the imagination of scientists who have recently discovered that multipotent adult bone marrow haematopoeitic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells can repopulate infarcted rodent myocardium and differentiate into both cardiomyocytes and new blood vessels. These data, coupled with the identification of a putative primitive cardiac stem cell population in the adult human heart, may pave the way for novel therapeutic modalities for enhancing myocardial performance and treating end-stage cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siân Hughes
- St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
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37
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Yung Shai
- Departments of Physiology, Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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38
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Magyar JP, Nemir M, Ehler E, Suter N, Perriard JC, Eppenberger HM. Mass production of embryoid bodies in microbeads. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001; 944:135-43. [PMID: 11797664 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are totipotent cells that can differentiate into a large number of different cell types. Stem cell-derived, differentiated cells are of increasing importance as a potential source for non-proliferating cells (e.g., cardiomyocytes or neurons) for future tissue engineering applications. Differentiation of ESC is initiated by the formation of embryoid bodies (EB). Current protocols for the generation of EB are either of limited productivity or deliver EB with a large variation in size and differentiation state. To establish an efficient and robust EB production process, we encapsulated mouse ESC into alginate microbeads using various microencapsulation technologies. Microencapsulation and culturing of ESC in 1.1% alginate microbeads gives rise to discoid colonies, which further differentiate within the beads to cystic EB and later to EB containing spontaneously beating areas. However, if ESC are encapsulated into 1.6% alginate microbeads, differentiation is inhibited at the morula-like stage, so that no cystic EB can be formed within the beads. ESC colonies, which are released from 1.6% alginate microbeads, can further differentiate to cystic EB with beating cardiomyocytes. Extended supplementation of the growth medium with retinoic acid promotes differentiation to smooth muscle cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Magyar
- Institute of Cell Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH-Hönggerberg, Zurich.
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39
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Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the capacity to self renew and to differentiate into cellular derivatives of the endodermal, ectodermal, and mesodermal lineages. Therefore, ES cells have been used to analyse the effects of exogenous factors on the developmental pattern during in vitro differentiation. By using an in vitro loss-of-function approach based on beta1 integrin-deficient ES cells, it was found that integrin-dependent mechanisms are involved in the regulation of Wnt-1 and BMP-4 expression. Antagonistic effects of the signalling molecules Wnt-1 and BMP-4, morphogens involved in early differentiation events, have been observed in vivo and in vitro: BMP-4 acts as a potent mesoderm inducer, whereas Wnt-1 plays a critical role in the determination of neuroectoderm. Here, we summarise data of ES cell-derived cardiac, myogenic, and neuronal differentiation of wild type and beta1 integrin-deficient ES cells. We present evidence that the interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix via integrins determines the expression of the signalling molecules BMP-4 and Wnt-1, resulting in the activation of the mesodermal and neuroectodermal lineage, respectively. The results support the idea that the influence of the extracellular 'niche' on the developmental fate of pluripotent stem cells is determined not only by soluble factors, but also by the extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Czyz
- In Vitro Differentiation Group, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
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40
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Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cell lines established from undifferentiated embryonic cells characterized by nearly unlimited self-renewal and differentiation capacity. During differentiation in vitro, ES cells were found to be able to develop into specialized somatic cells types and to recapitulate processes of early embryonic development. These properties allow to use ES cells as model system for studying early embryonic development by gain- or loss-of-function approaches, or to investigate the effects of drugs and environmental factors on differentiation and cell function in embryotoxicity and pharmacology. Now, ES cells derived of human blastocysts may be used for the generation of somatic precursor or differentiated cells in cell and tissue therapy. The review presents data of mouse ES cell differentiation and gives an outlook on future perspectives and problems of using human ES cells in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Wobus
- In Vitro Differentiation Group, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, D-06466, Gatersleben, Germany.
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Guan K, Czyz J, Fürst DO, Wobus AM. Expression and cellular distribution of alpha(v)integrins in beta(1)integrin-deficient embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac cells. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2001; 33:521-32. [PMID: 11181020 DOI: 10.1006/jmcc.2000.1326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
beta(1)integrin-deficient (beta(1)-/-) ES cells showed increased differentiation of cardiac cells characterized by reduced adhesion and high beating frequency. Whereas in whole embryoid body outgrowths of beta(1)-/- cells maximum levels of alpha(v), beta(3)and beta(5)integrin mRNA were delayed and transiently upregulated, in cardiac clusters isolated from beta(1)-/- cells, only beta(3)integrin mRNA levels were enhanced in comparison to wild-type (wt) cells. To answer the question, whether alpha(v)and beta(3)integrins may compensate, at least partially, the loss of beta(1)integrin function during cardiac differentiation, the distribution of alpha(v)and beta(3)integrins in beta(1)-/- and wt pacemaker-like cardiac cells was analyzed. A different distribution of alpha(v)and beta(3)integrins in beta(1)-/- v wt cardiac cells was found. In wt cardiac cells, beta(1)integrin was localized in specialized subsarcolemmal regions, in particular, at focal contacts and costameres, but alpha(v)integrin was diffusely distributed. In contrast, in beta(1)-/- cardiac cells, alpha(v)integrin was preponderantly localized at cell membranes, focal contacts and costameres. beta(3)integrin displayed a diffuse pattern both in wt and in beta(1)-/- pacemaker-like cells at early differentiation stages, whereas at terminal stages, beta(3)was colocalized with sarcomeres in wt, but not in beta(1)-/- pacemaker-like cells. Quantitative immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased alpha(v)and beta(3)integrin levels in beta(1)-/- pacemaker-like cardiac cells. Our results led us to conclude that altered cellular distribution of alpha(v)integrin and upregulation of beta(3)integrin correlate with growth and survival of beta(1)-/- cardiac pacemaker-like cells at an early developmental state. However, alpha(v)and beta(3)integrins cannot functionally compensate the loss of beta(1)integrin during terminal differentiation of cardiac cells implicating that cardiomyocytes require specific beta(1)integrin functions for cardiac specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Guan
- In Vitro Differentiation Group, IPK Gatersleben, D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany
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42
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Abstract
One of the most fascinating examples of cytoskeletal assembly is the myofibril, the contractile structure of striated (i.e. skeletal and cardiac) muscle. Myofibrils are composed of repeating contractile units known as sarcomeres, perhaps the most highly ordered macromolecular structures in eukaryotic cells. When skeletal and cardiac muscle cells differentiate, thousands of structural and regulatory molecules assemble into the semicrystalline sarcomeric contractile units. As a consequence of this precise assembly, many different classes of proteins function together to convert the molecular interactions of actin and myosin efficiently into the macroscopic movements of contractile activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Gregorio
- Dept of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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