Enhanced differentiation of rat MSCs into cardiomyocytes with 5-azacytidine/collagen I nano-molecules

This study was to investigate the enhancement ability of 5-azacytidine (5-aza) and collagen I nano-molecules treatment to the differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) towards a cardiomyocytes in vitro. The results demonstrated that the size of the cells increased significantly and connecting with adjoining cells by forming myotube-like structures. Also, additional treatment of the MSCs with collagen I nano-fibrils significantly increased two transcription factors GATA-4 and Nkx2.5 expressions and three expressions of cardiac genes of troponin I, β-myosin heavy chain and cardiac α-actin compared with MSC groups treated only with 5-aza at early 3 d culturing(all, P<0.01 or better). These results indicate that culturing MSCs with collagen I nano-molecules, which could act as scaffolds or soluble protein ingredients, leads to alterations in gene expression and affects the differentiation fate induced with 5-aza.