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Derivation of Cardiac Progenitor Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: January 12, 2015
Embryonic stem cell cardiogenesis applications for cardiovascular research.
J M Metzger1, L C Samuelson, E M Rust
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan,Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0622,USA.
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells offer a powerful model for studying cardiac development. Their genetic tractability and in vitro differentiation into cardiomyocytes are valuable for drug discovery and understanding cardiac gene function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells originating from the inner cell mass of blastocysts.
- These cells can be cultured undifferentiated or induced to differentiate into various cell types, including cardiomyocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the utility of mouse ES cells for studying cardiac gene expression and function.
- To emphasize the potential of in vitro cardiogenesis for pharmacological studies and analysis of lethal cardiac gene mutations.
Main Methods:
- Maintenance of mouse ES cells in an undifferentiated state in culture.
- Induction of in vitro differentiation of ES cells into cardiac myocytes.
- Genetic engineering of ES cells.
Main Results:
- ES cells can be differentiated in vitro into spontaneously beating cardiac myocytes.
- Genetic manipulation of ES cells is feasible.
- This system allows for the study of cardiac gene function in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Mouse ES cells provide a valuable in vitro model for cardiogenesis research.
- This system is advantageous for cardioactive drug discovery.
- It facilitates the study of cardiac gene mutations leading to lethal phenotypes in vivo.
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