Epicardial Outgrowth Culture Assay and Ex Vivo Assessment of Epicardial-derived Cell Migration.

ABSTRACT: A single layer of epicardial cells lines the heart, providing paracrine factors that stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and directly contributing cardiovascular progenitors during development and disease. While a number of factors have been implicated in epicardium-derived cell (EPDC) mobilization, the mechanisms governing their subsequent migration and differentiation are poorly understood. Here, we present in vitro and ex vivo strategies to study EPDC motility and differentiation. First, we describe a method of obtaining primary epicardial cells by outgrowth culture from the embryonic mouse heart. We also introduce a detailed protocol to assess three-dimensional migration of labeled EPDC in an organ culture system. We provide evidence using these techniques that genetic deletion of my

SUBMITTER: Trembley MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4829037 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature