通过形成类胚体诱导人羊水多能干细胞向心肌细胞分化

由人羊水中分离羊水多能性干细胞,通过形成类胚体诱导其向心肌细胞分化.取人羊水标本进行体外培养,分离得到人羊水干细胞,已连续传代培养至42代,采用免疫细胞化学、RT-PCR和流式细胞仪技术对羊水干细胞的生物学特性进行检测.取10～15代羊水干细胞,悬浮培养使其形成类胚体,进而向心肌细胞诱导分化.培养的羊水干细胞呈成纤维样,表达部分胚胎干细胞特异标志基因,悬浮培养可形成类胚体.类胚体碱性磷酸酶(AP)检测呈阳性,表达三胚层特异标志基因fgf5、ζ-globin和α-fetoprotein.羊水干细胞形成类胚体后进行诱导,得到α-actin阳性细胞,表达心肌细胞特异标志基因Tbx5、Nkx2.5、GATA4和α-MHC.试验结果表明,从人羊水标本中可分离得到具有胚胎干细胞特性的细胞,经初步检测确定为羊水干细胞,并能通过形成类胚体诱导其向心肌细胞分化.     

猪羊水干细胞特异向跳动心肌细胞诱导分化

为了筛选并建立一种由猪羊水干细胞向心肌细胞分化的有效方法,以猪羊水干细胞为研究对象,以5-氮胞苷 (5-aza) 和维生素C (Vc) 为诱导剂,对猪羊水干细胞形成的类胚体 (EBs) 进行诱导分化。应用免疫荧光、RT-PCR、透射电镜技术检测跳动细胞团中心肌特异性标记的表达情况。结果显示,在猪羊水干细胞形成的类胚体中加入心肌细胞诱导剂,10 d后即见到节律性跳动的细胞团,t检验发现0.1 mmol/L Vc加5 μmol/L 5-aza联合诱导组的诱导效率最高,达33％。免疫荧光结果显示跳动心肌细胞团表达细胞骨架蛋白α-actin和肌钙蛋白Tnni3。RT-PCR检测跳动心肌细胞团,发现心肌细胞特异性标记分子TbX5、Gata4、α-MHC、Tnni3均呈阳性表达。借助透射电镜观察诱导后的跳动样细胞团,能清晰可见其中的肌丝、糖原粒、糖原池等结构。说明5-氮胞苷和维生素C可以促进猪羊水干细胞向心肌细胞的诱导分化。     

定向诱导小鼠ES细胞向心肌细胞的分化

为了提高体外诱导ES细胞向心肌细胞分化的效率 ,对以往的诱导方法加以改进 ,采用直接悬浮培养和 0 8%DMSO诱导 ,建立了简便、高效的定向诱导ES细胞向心肌细胞分化的体系 .诱导第 9d起可见自发性、有节律跳动的类胚体出现 ,第 14d达到高峰 ,约有 70 %的拟胚体产生跳动 .用RT PCR的方法在跳动的拟胚体中检测到心肌细胞特异性标志物的表达 ,采用免疫荧光染色的方法在蛋白水平检测到心肌特异的α辅肌动蛋白 (α actinin)的表达 ,并可见清晰肌小节 ,表明在改进的体外诱导条件下ES细胞可分化为成熟的心肌细胞 .     

人胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞定向诱导分化

最近已有多种方案用于人胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化,但是分化效率相对较低。因此,有必要研究更恰当的分化方法,来加强心肌细胞分化,从而产生满足细胞移植治疗需要的大量细胞。本研究表明,早期拟胚体形成阶段使用含血清培养基对人胚胎干细胞向心肌分化具有至关重要的作用。在EB形成阶段的第5-7天,加入维生素C、二甲基亚砜和5-氮杂2′-脱氧胞苷处理,能够促进具有自发节律性收缩的心肌细胞的分化。用0.1mmol／L AA,特别是与5-aza-dC联合能诱导分化更多的搏动心肌细胞。大部分自发节律收缩的细胞团的收缩频率与成人心脏搏动频率一致,并持续至194天。     

三氯乙烯对人胚胎干细胞心肌分化的影响和机制

目的:探讨三氯乙烯(TCE)对人胚胎干细胞心肌发育分化的影响。方法:以人胚胎干细胞H9体外心肌定向分化为模型,分化培养液中添加不同剂量的TCE(分别为处理组100 ppb组,1 ppm组,10 ppm组)以及DMSO(对照组)。对诱导后形成的拟胚体以及不同发育阶段的细胞进行检测,通过MTT法测定细胞的生存能力,统计有自主节律跳动的拟胚体的数量;流式细胞仪计数分析细胞分化比例;荧光定量PCR检测心肌特异性基因表达;并应用基因芯片方法初步筛选检测三氯乙烯对心肌细胞钙离子通道相关的基因表达的影响。结果:TCE的三个浓度处理组均未显示细胞毒性,但高浓度组明显抑制向心肌细胞分化,能产生自主节律搏动的拟胚体比例显著降低,同时心肌特异性标记物c Tn T表达随剂量的增加而显著降低。在具有自主节律性的拟胚体中,钙离子通路的相关基因表达受到影响。结论:推测TCE通过降低成熟心肌的比例,以及影响心肌细胞中钙离子通道相关基因表达来共同导致心脏发育异常。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ在胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化中的作用

为检测血管紧张素Ⅱ（angiotensin Ⅱ,AⅡ）对小鼠胚胎干细胞（embryonic stem cells,ESCs）向心肌细胞方向分化的作用,采用10-4 mol/L维生素C诱导小鼠R1胚胎干细胞分化为心肌细胞. Western印记检测胚胎干细胞诱导分化的心肌细胞中表达血管紧张素Ⅱ1 型受体(angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor,AT1R).诱导分化期间用1 μmol/L AⅡ刺激胚胎干细胞,计数搏动拟胚体的比例;诱导分化第14 d用real-time RT-PCR 和Western 印记检测心肌标志物的表达确定其作用. 结果显示,与对照组相比,1 μmol/L AⅡ处理组可显著增加搏动拟胚体的比例,上调心肌标志物mRNA的表达. 预先用1 μmol/L洛沙坦处理1 h后可显著阻碍这种上调作用. 本实验结果表明,AⅡ通过AT1R可促进小鼠R1胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化.     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子体外诱导P19细胞分化为心肌样细胞

应用碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF-2）体外诱导P19细胞向心肌细胞分化,摸索适宜P19细胞向心肌细胞分化条件。将P19细胞接种于铺有0．5％软琼脂的培养皿中,用含FGF-2的分化培养基培养P19细胞,24h后即可见多个悬浮的细胞团形成,大部分形状较规则,直径随时间延长不断增大,至第4天形成细胞聚集体／EBs,形状规则、体积较大,少量EB呈囊性,隐约可见内细胞团样结构。     

Nulp1基因抑制P19CL6细胞向心肌细胞分化

Nulp1基因是已克隆的一个新的bHLH转录因子亚家族成员.前期的研究表明：Nulp1蛋白作为一个转录抑制子对SRF信号途径有极强的抑制作用.为了进一步研究Nulp1基因在心肌分化中的作用,在能够高效分化为心肌细胞的P19CL6细胞系中过表达Nulp1基因,发现心肌分化标志基因的表达被抑制;用RNA干扰技术,使Nulp1基因在P19CL6细胞系中的内源表达降低,发现心肌分化标志基因的表达提高,说明Nulp1基因能够抑制P19CL6细胞系向心肌细胞的分化.     

脂肪干细胞与间充质干细胞体外诱导分化为心肌细胞的差别

本文旨在探讨脂肪干细胞(adipose-derived stem cells, ASCs)和骨髓间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs)在组织含量、体外培养和诱导分化为心肌细胞方面的差别.ASCs从新西兰白兔皮下脂肪组织提取,MSCs从大鼠四肢长骨骨髓提取,体外培养扩增,免疫细胞学方法鉴定.采用细胞集落形成法检测组织中干细胞的含量.将不同代的干细胞用不同浓度的5-氮胞苷诱导,观察其形态变化,免疫细胞化学方法检测诱导后细胞是否转化为心肌细胞.结果显示,体外培养的ASCs呈短梭形,分布均匀,生长迅速,细胞形态单一、稳定.MSCs原代生长非常缓慢,呈簇生长,细胞纯度偏低,容易混杂其它细胞类型,传代细胞容易分化和老化.脂肪组织中ASCs含量显著高于骨髓中MSCs含量,且前者含量受年龄影响小.5-氮胞苷诱导ASCs分化为心肌细胞的有效浓度为6～9μmol/L,而MSCs在3～15μmol/L 5-氮胞苷诱导下可见心肌细胞形成.ASCs诱导分化的心肌细胞呈球形细胞团,MSCs分化的心肌细胞呈条形或棒状,其心肌细胞分化率低于ASCs.幼年动物MSCs的组织含量和心肌细胞分化率均高于老年动物,而ASCs受动物年龄影响较小.结果表明,ASCs在组织含量、细胞纯度、生长速度和心肌细胞分化率等方面均明显优于骨髓MSCs,在心肌细胞再生方面较MSCs具有更大的优势.     

Lrrc10在体外心肌发生过程中的表达研究

Lrrc10是一心脏特异新基因.为探讨Lrrc10在心肌细胞分化过程中的表达,采用DMSO诱导P19细胞分化,建立体外心肌发生模型,显微镜观察细胞形态变化,以心α-MHC和β-MHC作为心肌分化的标志,RT-PCR检测分化过程中各基因的表达.结果 表明,P19细胞经诱导后形态发生明显变化;α-MHC在诱导分化6 d时开始表达,β-MHC在诱导分化8 d时开始表达,表明心肌分化成功.而Lrrc10在诱导分化2 d时就开始表达,提示其功能可能与心肌分化有关.     

hhlim促进DMSO诱导的P19细胞向心肌分化

为了确定hhlim是否参与胚胎期的心肌分化和发育过程,用可表达hhlim蛋白和hhlim反义RNA的真核表达质粒转染P19胚胎干细胞,经G418筛选得到稳定表达hhlim和hhlim反义RNA的P19细胞克隆后,观察hhlim对P19细胞向心肌分化和发育的影响.结果显示,Nkx2.5和GATA-4在未被外源性hhlim基因转染的P19细胞中不表达.DMSO刺激细胞2天后,GATA-4开始表达,3天后Nkx2.5的表达活性显著升高.hhlim的过表达不但有利于P19细胞的存活和生长,而且还可以使Nkx2.5和GATA-4的表达比对照细胞提前1天.反义hhlim细胞株被DMSO诱导5天后,细胞仍呈集落化生长.同时,Nkx2.5和GATA-4开始表达的时间明显延滞.结果表明,hhlim能促进P19细胞向心肌细胞分化,其作用是通过促进转录因子GATA-4和Nkx2.5的表达而实现的.     

Embryoid bodies formation and differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the potential to develop into any type of tissue and are considered as a promising source of seeding cells for tissue engineering and transplantation therapy. The main catalyst for ES cells differentiation is the growth into embryoid bodies (EBs), which are utilized widely as the trigger of in vitro differentiation. In this study, a novel method for generating EBs from mouse ES cells through culture in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds was successfully established. When single ES cells were seeded in three dimensional collagen/Matrigel scaffolds, they grew into aggregates gradually and formed simple EBs with circular structures. After 7 days' culture,they formed into cystic EBs that would eventually differentiate into the three embryonic germ layers. Evaluation of the EBs in terms of morphology and potential to differentiate indicated that they were typical in structure and could generate various cell types; they were also able to form into tissue-like structures. Moreover, with introduction of ascorbic acid, ES cells differentiated into cardiomyocytes efficiently and started contracting synchronously at day 19. The results demonstrated that collagen/Matrigel scaffolds supported EBs formarion and their subsequent differentiation in a single three dimensional environment.     

Upregulations of Gata4 and oxytocin receptor are important in cardiomyocyte differentiation processes of P19CL6 cells

Oxytocin induces P19 cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes possibly through the oxytocin/oxytocin receptor system. We added oxytocin to the growth medium of P19CL6, a subline of P19, but they did not differentiate into cardiomyocytes as indicated by RT-PCR and Western blotting results. During the cardiac commitment time of P19CL6 cells, the mRNA expression levels of the oxytocin receptor were upregulated by the addition of oxytocin as well as DMSO, but an upregulation of Gata4 expression levels was only observed for the cells induced by DMSO. The in silico analysis of the upstream sequence of the oxytocin receptor predicted putative binding sites for Gata4 and Nkx2.5. These results suggest that upregulations of the oxytocin receptor and Gata4 are important for cardiomyocyte differentiation processes.     

Effect of Oxygen on Cardiac Differentiation in Mouse iPS Cells: Role of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 and Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling

Background

Disturbances in oxygen levels have been found to impair cardiac organogenesis. It is known that stem cells and differentiating cells may respond variably to hypoxic conditions, whereby hypoxia may enhance stem cell pluripotency, while differentiation of multiple cell types can be restricted or enhanced under hypoxia. Here we examined whether HIF-1alpha modulated Wnt signaling affected differentiation of iPS cells into beating cardiomyocytes.

Objective

We investigated whether transient and sustained hypoxia affects differentiation of cardiomyocytes derived from murine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, assessed the involvement of HIF-1alpha (hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha) and the canonical Wnt pathway in this process.

Methods

Embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from iPS cells were differentiated into cardiomyocytes and were exposed either to 24 h normoxia or transient hypoxia followed by a further 13 days of normoxic culture.

Results

At 14 days of differentiation, 59±2% of normoxic EBs were beating, whilst transient hypoxia abolished beating at 14 days and EBs appeared immature. Hypoxia induced a significant increase in Brachyury and islet-1 mRNA expression, together with reduced troponin C expression. Collectively, these data suggest that transient and sustained hypoxia inhibits maturation of differentiating cardiomyocytes. Compared to normoxia, hypoxia increased HIF-1alpha, Wnt target and ligand genes in EBs, as well as accumulation of HIF-1alpha and beta-catenin in nuclear protein extracts, suggesting involvement of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.

Conclusion

Hypoxia impairs cardiomyocyte differentiation and activates Wnt signaling in undifferentiated iPS cells. Taken together the study suggests that oxygenation levels play a critical role in cardiomyocyte differentiation and suggest that hypoxia may play a role in early cardiogenesis.