Eosinophil cationic protein enhances cardiomyocyte differentiation of P19CL6 embryonal carcinoma cells by stimulating the FGF receptor signaling pathway

Growth Factors. 2012 Oct;30(5):344-55. doi: 10.3109/08977194.2012.709852. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

We investigated the functional role of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in regulating cardiomyogenesis using mouse P19CL6 embryonic carcinoma cells. ECP was confirmed to accelerate the cardiomyocyte differentiation of P19CL6 cells by enhancing the rate and area size of beating of cardiomyocyte and by facilitating the expression of cardiomyocyte-specific genes, such as GATA4 and α-MHC. Since cardiomyocyte differentiation in vivo is considered to follow mesoderm induction, the induction of Brachyury, a marker of mesoderm, was assessed. Brachyury expression was found to be enhanced after the addition of ECP. This enhancement was due to the stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation by ECP. In this context, treatment with SU5402, an inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 1, suppressed Brachyury expression, phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and cardiomyocyte differentiation induced by ECP. We concluded that ECP might induce mesoderm differentiation through FGF signaling pathway and enhance subsequent cardiomyocyte differentiation in concert with dimethyl sulfoxide in P19CL6 cells. ECP may be a novel factor for cardiomyocyte differentiation, which should be very useful to prepare adequate numbers of cardiomyocytes for therapeutic cell transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / pharmacology
  • Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Fetal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / biosynthesis
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Fetal Proteins
  • GATA4 Transcription Factor
  • Gata4 protein, mouse
  • Pyrroles
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • SU 5402
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein
  • Myosin Heavy Chains
  • Brachyury protein
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide