In vitro cardiomyogenic potential of human amniotic fluid stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Stem cell therapy for damaged cardiac tissue is currently limited by a number of factors, including inability to obtain sufficient cell numbers, the potential tumorigenicity of certain types of stem cells and the possible link between stem cell therapy and the development of malignant arrhythmias. In this study, we investigated whether human amniotic fluid-derived stem (hAFS) cells could be a potential source of cells for cardiac cell therapy, by testing the in vitro differentiation capabilities. Undifferentiated hAFS cells express several cardiac genes, including the transcription factor mef2, the gap junction connexin43, and H- and N-cadherin. A 24 h incubation with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-dC) induced hAFS cell differentiation along the cardiac lineage. Evidence for this differenti

SUBMITTER: Guan X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2975013 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature