Differentiation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells to a cardiomyogenic phenotype depends on E-cadherin

Progenitor cells may contribute to cardiac regeneration. Here, we investigated the role of cadherins and integrins for differentiation of human adult circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) into cardiomyocytes (CM) in a co-culture system. N- and E-cadherin were expressed in EPCs and were localized at the interface between EPCs and CM. Incubation of a blocking antibody against E-cadherin reduced the expression of CM marker protein in EPCs. Blocking antibodies against N- or P-cadherin or the beta1- and beta2-integrins were not effective. These data suggested that cell-to-cell communication mediated by E-cadherin contributes to the acquirement of a cardiomyogenic phenotype of human endothelial progenitor cells.