Efficient generation and cryopreservation of cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) represent a novel cell source to treat diseases such as heart failure and for use in drug screening. In this study, we aim to promote efficient generation of cardiomyocytes from hESCs by combining the current optimal techniques of controlled growth of undifferentiated cells and specific induction for cardiac differentiation. We also aim to examine whether these methods are scalable and whether the differentiated cells can be cryopreserved.

Methods & results

hESCs were maintained without conditioned medium or feeders and were sequentially treated with activin A and bone morphogenetic protein-4 in a serum-free medium. This led to differentiation into cell populations containing high percentages of cardiomyocytes. The differentiated cells

SUBMITTER: Xu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3057133 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature