Skeletal muscle stem cells propagated as myospheres display electrophysiological properties modulated by culture conditions.

In cardiac regenerative therapy, transplantation of stem cells to form new myocardium is limited by their inability to integrate into host myocardium and conduct cardiac electrical activity. It is now hypothesized that refining cell sorting could upgrade the therapeutic result. Here we characterized a subpopulation of skeletal muscle stem cells with respect to their electrophysiological properties. The aim of our study was to determine whether electrophysiological parameters are compatible with cardiac function and can be influenced by culture conditions. Low-adherent skeletal muscle stem cells were isolated from the hind legs of 12-20 week old mice. After 6 days of culture the cells were analysed using patch-clamp techniques and RT-PCR, and replated in different media for skeletal muscle or cardiac differentiation. The cells generated action potentials (APs) longer than skeletal muscle APs, expressed functional cardiac Na(+) channels (~46% of the total channel fraction), displayed fast activating and inactivating L-type Ca(2+) currents, possibly conducted through cardiac channels and did not show significant Cl(-) conductance. Moreover, a fraction of cells expressed muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Conditioning the cells for skeletal muscle differentiation resulted in upregulation of skeletal muscle-specific Na(+) and Ca(2+) channel expression, shortening of AP duration and loss of functional cardiac Na(+) channels. Cardiomyogenic conditions however, promoted the participation of cardiac Na(+) channels (57% of the total channel fraction). Nevertheless the cells retained properties of myoblasts such as the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. We conclude that skeletal muscle stem cells display several electrophysiological properties similar to those of cardiomyocytes. Culture conditions modulated these properties but only partially succeeded in further driving the cells towards a cardiac phenotype. This article is part of a special issue entitled, "Cardiovascular Stem Cells Revisited".