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Updated: Nov 5, 2025
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
Expression Profile of Long Noncoding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Mouse C3H10T1/2 Mesenchymal Stem Cells Undergoing
Mingshan Li1, Zijie Pei2, Hongtao Zhang2
1Department of Cell Biology, Medical College of Soochow University, Soochow University, Ren Ai Road 199, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Background:
Currently, a heterogeneous category of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) that directly regulate the expression or function of protein-coding genes is shown to have an effect on the fate decision of stem cells. However, the detailed regulatory roles of ncRNAs in myogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation of mouse C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are far from clear.
Methods:
In this study, 5-azacytidine- (5-AZA-) treated C3H10T1/2 cells were differentiated into myocyte-like and cardiomyocyte-like cells. Next, ncRNA associated with myogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation was identified using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify the differentially expressed ncRNAs and the related signaling pathways.
Results:
Myotube-like structure was formed after 5-AZA treatment of C3H10T1/2 cells. In addition, myogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation-related genes like GATA4, cTnt, MyoD, and Desmin were upregulated significantly after the 5-AZA treatment. Totally, 1538 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 3398 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified, including 1175 upregulated and 363 downregulated lncRNAs and 2429 upregulated and 969 downregulated mRNAs. In addition, 46 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, including 25 upregulated and 21 downregulated circRNAs. Moreover, the differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched into 5 significant pathways, including those for focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and Tyrosine metabolism.
Conclusions:
A systematic view of the expression of ncRNAs in myogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation of MSCs was provided in the study.
