Cardiac Pacemaker Cells Generate Cardiomyocytes from Fibroblasts in Long-Term Cultures.

ABSTRACT: Because cardiomyocyte generation is limited, the turnover of cardiomyocytes in adult heart tissues is much debated. We report here that cardiac pacemaker cells can generate cardiomyocytes from fibroblasts in vitro. Sinoatrial node cells (SANCs) were isolated from adult guinea pig hearts and were cultured at relatively low cell densities. Within a week, a number of fibroblast-like cells were observed to gather around SANCs, and these formed spontaneously beating clusters with cardiomyocyte structures. The clusters expressed genes and proteins that are characteristic of atrial cardiomyocytes. Pharmacological blocking of pacemaker currents inhibited generation of action potentials, and the spontaneous beating were ceased by physically destroying a few central cells. Inhibition of beating duri

SUBMITTER: Kiuchi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6811548 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature