Direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes with chemical cocktails

Cell Res. 2015 Sep;25(9):1013-24. doi: 10.1038/cr.2015.99. Epub 2015 Aug 21.

Abstract

The direct conversion, or transdifferentiation, of non-cardiac cells into cardiomyocytes by forced expression of transcription factors and microRNAs provides promising approaches for cardiac regeneration. However, genetic manipulations raise safety concerns and are thus not desirable in most clinical applications. The discovery of full chemically induced pluripotent stem cells suggest the possibility of replacing transcription factors with chemical cocktails. Here, we report the generation of automatically beating cardiomyocyte-like cells from mouse fibroblasts using only chemical cocktails. These chemical-induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (CiCMs) express cardiomyocyte-specific markers, exhibit sarcomeric organization, and possess typical cardiac calcium flux and electrophysiological features. Genetic lineage tracing confirms the fibroblast origin of these CiCMs. Further studies show the generation of CiCMs passes through a cardiac progenitor stage instead of a pluripotent stage. Bypassing the use of viral-derived factors, this proof of concept study lays a foundation for in vivo cardiac transdifferentiation with pharmacological agents and possibly safer treatment of heart failure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actinin / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Benzoates / pharmacology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Transdifferentiation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Reprogramming*
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Retinoids / pharmacology
  • Transcriptome / drug effects
  • Tranylcypromine / pharmacology
  • Troponin I / metabolism
  • Troponin T / metabolism

Substances

  • Benzoates
  • Chir 99021
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • RepSox
  • Retinoids
  • Troponin I
  • Troponin T
  • Actinin
  • Colforsin
  • Tranylcypromine
  • 4-(2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl)benzoic acid
  • Calcium

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE69924