In vitro culture, determination, and directed differentiation of adult adipose-derived stem cells towards cardiomyocyte-like cells induced by angiotensin II.

The in vitro basic biological characteristics and directed differentiation potential towards cardiomyocytes of adult adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) induced by angiotensin II were both investigated. ADSCs were isolated from adult adipose tissue and cultured in vitro, and were subsequently induced into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts for assays of multipotential differentiation. The morphological characteristics of ADSCs were observed under an inverted microscope in bright field and phase-contrast ways and a confocal laser scanning microscopy. Moreover, the directional differentiation potential was observed by Oil Red, alkaline phosphatase, von Kossa, and toluidine blue stainings, respectively. The expressions of CD34, CD44, CD45, CD105, and HLA-DR were also detected via flow cytometry. Following to this, ADSCs were induced by angiotensin II and basic fibroblast growth factor for the purpose of directional differentiation towards cardiomyocyte-like cells, and the cells treated with 5-azacytidine were regarded as the control. The results showed that the isolated and cultured ADSCs presented a typical morphology of fusiform shape and also expressed CD44, CD105, but not CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR with assays of flow cytometry. The multi-differentiations to adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts confirmed that the isolated cells maintained the stem characteristics generating from adipose tissues. After 4 weeks of induction by angiotensin II, the cells expressed myosin heavy chain, troponin I, and connexin43 by immunocytochemistry staining, but without beating of the cells. This current study indicated that ADSCs possessed the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and angiotensin II could induce ADSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells.