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Derivation of Cardiac Progenitor Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: January 12, 2015
Proteins secreted by embryonic stem cells activate cardiomyocytes through ligand binding pathways
W A LaFramboise1, P Petrosko, J M Krill-Burger
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Shadyside Hospital, 5230 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States. laframboisewa@upmc.edu
Journal of Proteomics
|January 5, 2010
Summary
Human embryonic stem cells secrete proteins that promote cardiomyocyte division. These paracrine signals, including growth factors and cytokines, suggest a role in heart development and repair.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Cardiovascular research
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are crucial for embryogenesis.
- The paracrine signaling factors secreted by hESC during this process are largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile native proteins secreted by undifferentiated hESC.
- To determine the biological effects of these secreted proteins on primary neonatal cardiomyocytes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multi-analyte immunochemical assays to analyze conditioned media from hESC.
- Performed expression profiling on cardiomyocytes exposed to conditioned versus unconditioned media.
- Mapped altered transcripts to critical biological pathways.
Main Results:
- Identified 32 significantly elevated proteins in hESC-conditioned media, including chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors.
- Demonstrated that conditioned media induced karyokinesis, cytokinesis, and proliferation in cardiomyocytes.
- Pathway analysis revealed activation of the ROCK/GPCR, RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (RTK), and JAK/STAT pathways.
Conclusions:
- hESC secrete paracrine factors that stimulate cardiomyocyte cell division.
- These factors activate key signaling pathways involved in cell division and progression.
- These findings suggest a potential role for hESC-derived factors in cardiogenesis and cardiac repair.

