Stromal cell-derived factor-1 promotes bone marrow-derived cells differentiation to cardiomyocyte phenotypes in vitro
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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
1Division of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Insights
Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) promotes bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) to become heart cells in vitro. This suggests SDF-1 plays a role in cardiomyogenesis via the SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/Akt pathway.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) show potential for differentiating into cardiomyocytes.
- Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is upregulated in infarcted myocardium and recruits BMDC.
- The role of SDF-1 in BMDC cardiomyogenesis is currently unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SDF-1 in the differentiation of BMDC into cardiomyocytes.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying SDF-1-induced cardiomyogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Adherent BMDC were cultured with SDF-1.
- Specific inhibitors for PI3K, CXCR4, or Akt were used in combination with SDF-1.
- Cardiac-specific gene and protein expression in BMDC was analyzed after 2 weeks.
Main Results:
- BMDC cultured with SDF-1 expressed cardiac-specific mRNAs (NKX2.5, atrial natriuretic factor, heavy chain beta-myosin) and proteins (troponin I, heavy chain cardiac myosin).
- Co-treatment with CXCR4, PI3K, or Akt inhibitors partially reduced the expression of these cardiac markers.
- These findings indicate SDF-1 can induce cardiomyogenic phenotypes in BMDC in vitro.
Conclusions:
- SDF-1 promotes BMDC differentiation into cardiomyocyte phenotypes in vitro, extending beyond its known roles in cell mobilization and homing.
- The SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is implicated as a key mechanism in regulating BMDC cardiomyogenesis.
- This study provides novel insights into the potential of SDF-1 in cardiac regenerative medicine.
Objective:
Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDC) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Up-regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), a member of the chemokine CXC subfamily, mediating recruitment of BMDC has been documented in infarcted myocardium; however, it remains unknown whether SDF-1 plays a role in cardiomyogenesis of BMDC.
Materials And Methods:
Adherent BMDCs were cultured with SDF-1, or specific inhibitor for PI3K, CXCR4 or Akt with SDF-1, respectively. After 2 weeks, mRNAs and proteins from BMDCs were examined.
Results:
Two weeks after supplementation with SDF-1, either murine or human adherent BMDC cultured in vitro expressed cardiac specific mRNAs (NKX2.5, atrial natriuretic factor and heavy chain beta-myosin) and proteins (troponin I and heavy chain cardiac myosin), and expression levels were partly decreased by combined treatment of CXCR4, PI3K or Akt inhibitor, with SDF-1.
Conclusions:
The novel findings suggest that beyond its role in mobilization and homing of BMDC, SDF-1 can promote BMDC to give rise to cardiomyocyte phenotypes in vitro, and the SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/Akt pathway may be one of the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiomyogenesis.
