Overexpression of myocardin induces partial transdifferentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show superior proliferative capacity and therapeutic potential than those derived from bone marrow (BM). Ectopic expression of myocardin further improved the therapeutic potential of BM-MSCs in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. The aim was of this study was to assess whether forced myocardin expression in iPSC-MSCs could further enhance their transdifferentiation to cardiomyocytes and improve their electrophysiological properties for cardiac regeneration. Myocardin was overexpressed in iPSC-MSCs using viral vectors (adenovirus or lentivirus). The expression of smooth muscle cell and cardiomyocyte markers, and ion channel genes was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3966242 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature