Clonal differentiation of skeletal muscle-derived CD34(-)/45(-) stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vivo

Stem Cells Dev. 2010 Apr;19(4):503-12. doi: 10.1089/scd.2009.0179.

Abstract

The differentiation and/or therapeutic potential of skeletal muscle-derived stem cells for cardiac infarction have been studied extensively for use in cellular cardiomyoplasty, as injured cardiomyocytes exhibit limited regenerative capacity. We previously reported cardio-myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle-derived CD34+/45(-) (Sk-34) stem cells after therapeutic transplantation. However, the clonal differentiation potential of these cells remains unknown. Here, we show that skeletal muscle-derived CD34(-)/45(-) (Sk-DN) stem cells, which are situated upstream of Sk-34 cells in the same lineage, exhibit clonal differentiation into cardiomyocytes after single cell-derived single-sphere implantation into myocardium. Sk-DN cells were enzymatically isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice and purified by flow cytometry, and were then clonally cultured in collagen-based medium with bFGF and EGF after clonal cell sorting. Single cell-derived single-sphere colonies of Sk-DN cells were directly implanted into the wild-type mouse myocardium. At 4 weeks after implantation, donor cells exhibited typical cardiomyocyte structure with the formation of gap-junctions between donor and recipient cells. Expression of specific mRNAs for cardiomyocytes, such as cardiac actin and GATA-4, Nkx2-5, Isl-1, Mef2, and Hand2, were also seen in clonal cell cultures of Sk-DN cells. Cell fusion-independent differentiation was also confirmed by bulk cell transplantation using Cre- and loxP (enhanced GFP)-mice. We conclude that Sk-DN cells can give rise to cardiac muscle cells clonally, and that skeletal muscle includes a practical cell source for cellular cardiomyoplasty.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Gap Junctions
  • Gene Expression
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / ultrastructure
  • Myocytes, Cardiac* / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac* / metabolism
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors / genetics
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Biomarkers
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor
  • Hand2 protein, mouse
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors
  • Nkx2-5 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens