Human epicardium-derived cells fuse with high efficiency with skeletal myotubes and differentiate toward the skeletal muscle phenotype: a comparison study with stromal and endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have underscored a role for the epicardium as a source of multipotent cells. Here, we investigate the myogenic potential of adult human epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) and analyze their ability to undergo skeletal myogenesis when cultured with differentiating primary myoblasts. Results are compared to those obtained with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and with endothelial cells, another mesodermal derivative. We demonstrate that EPDCs spontaneously fuse with pre-existing myotubes with an efficiency that is significantly higher than that of other cells. Although at a low frequency, endothelial cells may also contribute to myotube formation. In all cases analyzed, after entering the myotube, nonmuscle nuclei are reprogrammed to express muscle-specific genes. The fusion comp

SUBMITTER: Gentile A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3046056 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature