Human cardiac tissue induces transdifferentiation of adult stem cells towards cardiomyocytes

• Published in: Cytotherapy (Oxford, England) Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 332 - 337
• Main Authors: Perán, Macarena, Marchal, Juan A, López, Elena, Jiménez-Navarro, Manuel, Boulaiz, Houria, Rodríguez-Serrano, Fernando, Carrillo, Esmeralda, Sánchez-Espin, Gema, de Teresa, Eduardo, Tosh, David, Aranega, Antonia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 2010; Informa UK Ltd. (Informa Healthcare, Taylor & Francis AS)
• Subjects: adipose stem cells; Adipose Tissue - cytology; Adult; Adult Stem Cells - cytology; Adult Stem Cells - physiology; Advanced Basic Science; Biomarkers - metabolism; cardiomyogenic differentiation; Cell Differentiation - physiology; cell extract; Cell Lineage; Cell Transdifferentiation; Cells, Cultured; Heart Atria - cytology; Humans; Myocardium - cytology; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac - cytology; Myocytes, Cardiac - physiology; Other; transdifferentiation; cardiomyogenic differentiation; transdifferentiation; adipose stem cells; cell extract
• ISSN: 1465-3249; 1477-2566
• DOI: 10.3109/14653240903548202

Abstract Background aims The goal was to induce the transdifferentiation (or conversion) of human adipose-derived stem cells to cardiomyocytes using an intracellular extract obtained from adult human heart tissue. Methods Human adult stem cells from lipoaspirates were transiently permeabilized, exposed to human atrial extracts and allowed to recover in culture. Results After 21 days, the cells acquired a cardiomyocyte phenotype, as demonstrated by morphologic changes (appearance of binucleate, striated cells and branching fibers), immunofluorescence detection of cardiac-specific markers (connexin-43, sarcomeric α-actinin, cardiac troponin I and T, and desmin) and the presence of cardiomyocyte-related genes analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (cardiac myosin light chain 1, α-cardiac actin, cardiac troponin T and cardiac β-myosin). Conclusions We have demonstrated for the first time that adult cardiomyocytes obtained from human donors retain the capacity to induce cardiomyocyte differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells. The use of autologous extracts for reprogramming adult stem cells may have potential therapeutic implications for treating heart disease.