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The post‐natal heart contains a myocardial stem cell population
Author(s) -
Hierlihy Andrée M,
Seale Patrick,
Lobe Corrinne G,
Rudnicki Michael A,
Megeney Lynn A
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03477-4
Subject(s) - mef2c , stem cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , population , induced pluripotent stem cell , side population , cell , cell type , transcription factor , gene , genetics , medicine , embryonic stem cell , cancer stem cell , environmental health
The recent identification of stem cell pools in a variety of unexpected tissue sources has raised the possibility that a pluripotent stem cell population may reside in the myocardium and contribute to the post‐natal growth of this tissue. Here, we demonstrate that the post‐natal myocardium contains a resident verapamil‐sensitive side population (SP), with stem cell‐like activity. When growth of the post‐natal heart was attenuated through over‐expression of a dominant negative cardiac transcription factor (MEF2C), the resident SP cell population was subject to activation, followed by a consequent depletion. In addition, cardiac SP cells are capable of fusion with other cell types, but do not adopt the corresponding gene expression profile. These observations suggest that a responsive stem cell pool resides in the adult myocardium, and may influence adaptation of the post‐natal heart.