Open AccessFoetal and adult cardiomyocyte progenitor cells have different developmental potential
Author(s) -
Van Vliet Patrick,
Smits Anke M.,
De Boer Teun P.,
Korfage Tom H.,
Metz Corina H.G.,
Roccio Marta,
Van Der Heyden Marcel A.G.,
Van Veen Toon A.B.,
Sluijter Joost P.G.,
Doevendans Pieter A.,
Goumans MarieJosé
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01053.x
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , biology , myocyte , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , regenerative medicine , developmental biology , transplantation , progenitor , cell type , cellular differentiation , adult stem cell , cell , endothelial stem cell , immunology , anatomy , medicine , in vitro , genetics , gene
In the past years, cardiovascular progenitor cells have been isolated from the human heart and characterized. Up to date, no studies have been reported in which the developmental potential of foetal and adult cardiovascular progenitors was tested simultaneously. However, intrinsic differences will likely affect interpretations regarding progenitor cell potential and application for regenerative medicine. Here we report a direct comparison between human foetal and adult heart‐derived cardiomyocyte progenitor cells (CMPCs). We show that foetal and adult CMPCs have distinct preferences to differentiate into mesodermal lineages. Under pro‐angiogenic conditions, foetal CMPCs form more endothelial but less smooth muscle cells than adult CMPCs. Foetal CMPCs can also develop towards adipocytes, whereas neither foetal nor adult CMPCs show significant osteogenic differentiation. Interestingly, although both cell types differentiate into heart muscle cells, adult CMPCs give rise to electrophysiologically more mature cardiomyocytes than foetal CMPCs. Taken together, foetal CMPCs are suitable for molecular cell biology and developmental studies. The potential of adult CMPCs to form mature cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells may be essential for cardiac repair after transplantation into the injured heart.