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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
[Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cocultured with semi-permeable membrane separated neonatal rat ventricular
Xiao-hong Li1, Xi-yong Yu, Qiu-xiong Lin
1Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Objective:
To investigate the ability of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), cocultured with semi-permeable membrane separated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.
Methods:
hBMSCs were isolated and purified by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening method. Cells were expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 3 passages and their phenotypes were identified with flow cytometer. hBMSCs were cocultured with neonatal rat ventricular myocytes in a rate of 1:10 separated by semi-permeable membrane. GATA4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR; Immunocytochemistry, and Immunostaining were used to detect sarcomeric alpha-actinin, desmin, cTnT, and cTnI protein level.
Results:
CD29 (98.64% +/- 0.80%) and CD44 (96.70% +/- 1.50%) were the major surface markers of hBMSCs. After coculturing with semi-permeable membrane separated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, the first contraction of single cells was noted at day 7 and GATA4 expression was detected on these cells by RT-PCR after 1 to 3 weeks coculture. Desmin, sarcomeric alpha-actinin, cTnI and cTnT could be detected by immunocytochemistry and immunostaining on some of these cells.
Conclusion:
hBMSCs possess the potential to differentiate into myocardial cell phenotype in the cardiac microenvironment. Direct contact with cardiomyocytes was not necessary required for hBMSCs differentiation.
