Stimulation of P19CL6 with multiple reagents induces pulsating particles in vivo

Injection of stem cells into ischaemic areas of the heart is expected to be an effective method for myocardial regeneration. The embryogenic carcinoma (EC) cell line P19CL6 is known to differentiate into cardiomyocytes when cultured with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and is expected to be a promising source for regenerative therapy in cardiac disease. To establish a high-yield method of cardiomyocyte differentiation, P19CL6 cells were double-stimulated with 5-azacytidine. Double stimulation-induced cardiomyocytes were also transplanted into ectopic sites in mice and their function evaluated.

To induce differentiation under adherent conditions, P19CL6 cells were incubated in growth medium with 10 microM 5-azacytidine for 24 h. After 5-azacytidine treatment, P19CL6 cells were incubated with 1% DMSO for nine days until they began to pulsate. Prior to transplantation, cells were treated again with 5-azacytidine. Differentiated cells were injected into the greater omentum, para-aorta region of the retroperitoneum and peri-femoral artery of adult BALB/c nude mice. Nine days after transplantation, irregularly pulsating tissues at a rate slower than the host heart were observed in the transplanted sites. Light microscopy showed formation of cardiac muscle tissues originating from P19CL6 cells. Differentiated cardiomyocytes were positive for cardiac troponin I, cadherin and alpha-smooth muscle actin, and the expressions of Csx/Nkx2.5 and GATA4 mRNAs were up-regulated. Electron microscopy demonstrated components specific to cardiomyocytes, such as Z-bands, desmosomes, fasciae adherens, myofibrils and mitochondria, which confirmed successful heterotopic cardiac muscle differentiation from P19CL6 cells.

This study demonstrated high-yield cardiac muscle differentiation of P19CL6 by 5-azacytidine and DMSO double stimulation and successful formation of cardiac muscle-like tissue by ectopic transplantation of cardiomyocytes derived from P19CL6 into the retroperitoneal area as well as into the peripheral vessel area.