BACKGROUND: Despite the pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells, the specific control of their cardiomyogenic differentiation remains difficult. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether growth factors may efficiently enhance the in vitro cardiac differentiation of ES cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Recombinant growth factors at various concentrations or their inhibitors were added according to various schedules during the cardiomyogenic differentiation of ES cells. Cardiomyogenic differentiation was assessed by mRNA and protein expressions of several cardiomyocyte-specific genes. Basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and/or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) efficiently enhanced the cardiomyogenic differentiation, but only when they were added at the optimal concentration (1.0 ng/ml in FGF-2 and 0.2 ng/ml in BMP-2; relatively lower than expected in both cases) for the first 3 days. Inhibition of FGF-2 and/or BMP-2 drastically suppressed the cardiomyogenic differentiation. CONCLUSION: FGF-2 and BMP-2 play a crucial role in early cardiomyogenesis. The achievement of efficient cardiac differentiation using both growth factors may facilitate ES cell-derived cell therapy for heart diseases as well as contribute to developmental studies of the heart.
BACKGROUND: Despite the pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells, the specific control of their cardiomyogenic differentiation remains difficult. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether growth factors may efficiently enhance the in vitro cardiac differentiation of ES cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Recombinant growth factors at various concentrations or their inhibitors were added according to various schedules during the cardiomyogenic differentiation of ES cells. Cardiomyogenic differentiation was assessed by mRNA and protein expressions of several cardiomyocyte-specific genes. Basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and/or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) efficiently enhanced the cardiomyogenic differentiation, but only when they were added at the optimal concentration (1.0 ng/ml in FGF-2 and 0.2 ng/ml in BMP-2; relatively lower than expected in both cases) for the first 3 days. Inhibition of FGF-2 and/or BMP-2 drastically suppressed the cardiomyogenic differentiation. CONCLUSION:FGF-2 and BMP-2 play a crucial role in early cardiomyogenesis. The achievement of efficient cardiac differentiation using both growth factors may facilitate ES cell-derived cell therapy for heart diseases as well as contribute to developmental studies of the heart.
Authors: Georg Siegel; Petra Krause; Stefanie Wöhrle; Patrick Nowak; Miriam Ayturan; Torsten Kluba; Bernhard R Brehm; Birgid Neumeister; David Köhler; Peter Rosenberger; Lothar Just; Hinnak Northoff; Richard Schäfer Journal: Stem Cells Dev Date: 2012-03-13 Impact factor: 3.272
Authors: Shuichi Ueno; Gilbert Weidinger; Tomoaki Osugi; Aimee D Kohn; Jonathan L Golob; Lil Pabon; Hans Reinecke; Randall T Moon; Charles E Murry Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2007-05-23 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Francesco Piraino; Seila Selimović; Marco Adamo; Alessandro Pero; Sam Manoucheri; Sang Bok Kim; Danilo Demarchi; Ali Khademhosseini Journal: Biomicrofluidics Date: 2012-11-26 Impact factor: 2.800