Ear mesenchymal stem cells (EMSC) can differentiate into spontaneously contracting muscle cells.

We have previously shown that cells isolated from the outer ears of adult mice are a source of mesenchymal stem cells that can be induced to differentiate into adipo-, osteo-, and chondrocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that ear mesenchymal stem cells (EMSC) express stromal cell-associated markers (CD44, CD73) and stem cell marker Sca-1 and can be differentiated into spontaneously contracting muscle cells. Treatment of cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) change their morphology from fibroblast shapes into stick-like structures that show repeated spontaneous contractions. Under conditions that promote myogenic differentiation, EMSC expressed mRNA for myoD and ventricular specific myosin light chain (MLC-2v) and protein for connexin 43, sarcomeric alpha-actinin, myocyte enhancer factor 2c (MEF2c), myosin heavy chain (MyHC), myogenin, and sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase (SERCA) 1. However, the cells were negative for Nkx2.5, GATA4, and ANP. Intracellular Ca(2+) transients in spontaneously beating EMSC, visualized by Fluo-3AM, showed a frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations ranging over 28-59/min (mean 41.17 +/- SEM 1.54). We also demonstrated that small pieces of ear tissues (ear punches) collected from live mice provide sufficient numbers of EMSC to isolate, culture and differentiate them into myocytes. Due to the ease of acquiring an expanding repertoire of differentiated EMSC cell types by a noninvasive surgical procedure, we conclude that the ear may prove to be a potential source of autologous cells for regenerative medicine, as supported by the fact that ears are one of the best sources of cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).