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Human embryonic stem cells can differentiate into myocytes with structural and functional properties of cardiomyocytes
Author(s) -
Yoo HyunTae,
Yoo YoungMi,
Kim YongJung,
Lee Uhn
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.576.2
Subject(s) - desmin , myocyte , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , immunocytochemistry , stem cell , cell therapy , transplantation , fetus , cell , cardiac myocyte , human heart , biology , pathology , immunohistochemistry , medicine , immunology , biochemistry , vimentin , pregnancy , genetics , gene
Adult cardiomyocytes have limited regenerative capacity and, therefore, significant loss of these cells may result in the development of progressive heart failure. Cardiomyocytes derived from human fetal cells could be useful in restoring heart function in cases of heart failure. We established primary cultures of cardiomyocytes obtained from human fetal cells and found that human fetal cardiomyocytes may constitute a suitable cell source for cellular cardiomyoplasty. These human cardiomyocyte cultures were found to form very large colonies with many flattened cells at the edges, while rhythmically contracting areas appeared at 1 month after plating. In the immunocytochemistry experiment, cells originating from heart cells stained positively with sarcomeric á‐actinin, troponin I, and desmin. Also, thirteen different lines of evidence confirm the cardiomyocytic nature of these cells. Our results demonstrated the presence of spontaneously contracting tissue within the developing cell mass (CM). Using IHC, the presence of cardiac specific proteins and their spatial organization were studied in dispersed cells forming the contracting CM. The establishment of this unique system may have an important impact on our understanding of human cardiac development and function, and can be a step forward in the development of human cardiomyocyte transplantation therapy.