Human amniotic fluid (hAF) cells share characteristics of both embryonic and adult stem cells. They proliferate rapidly and can differentiate into cells of all embryonic germ layers but do not form teratomas. Embryoid-bodies obtained from hAF have cardiac differentiation potential, but terminal differentiation to cardiomyocytes (CMs) has not yet been described. Our purpose was to promote cardiac differentiation in hAFcells. Cells were exposed to inducing factors for up to 15 days. Only the subset of hAF cells expressing the multipotency markers SSEA4, OCT4 and CD90 ((Cardiopoietic)AF cells) responded to the differentiation process by increasing the expression of the cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5 and GATA4, sarcomeric proteins (cTnT, alpha-MHC, alpha-SA), Connexin43 and atrial and ventricular markers. Furthermore, differentiated cells were positive for the calcium pumps CACNA1C and SERCA2a, with approximately 30% of (Cardiopoietic)AF-derived CM-like cells responding to caffeine or adrenergic stimulation. Some spontaneous rare beating foci were also observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that (Cardiopoietic)AF cells might differentiate toward the cardiac lineage giving rise to CM-like cells characterized by several cardiac-specific molecular, structural, and functional properties.

Cardiomyocytes derived from human cardiopoieticamniotic fluids

Di Baldassarre, Angela
Primo
;
D’Amico, Maria A.;Izzicupo, Pascal;Gaggi, Giulia;Guarnieri, Simone;Mariggiò, Maria A.;Antonucci, Ivana;Stuppia, Liborio;Ghinassi, Barbara
Ultimo
2018-01-01

Abstract

Human amniotic fluid (hAF) cells share characteristics of both embryonic and adult stem cells. They proliferate rapidly and can differentiate into cells of all embryonic germ layers but do not form teratomas. Embryoid-bodies obtained from hAF have cardiac differentiation potential, but terminal differentiation to cardiomyocytes (CMs) has not yet been described. Our purpose was to promote cardiac differentiation in hAFcells. Cells were exposed to inducing factors for up to 15 days. Only the subset of hAF cells expressing the multipotency markers SSEA4, OCT4 and CD90 ((Cardiopoietic)AF cells) responded to the differentiation process by increasing the expression of the cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5 and GATA4, sarcomeric proteins (cTnT, alpha-MHC, alpha-SA), Connexin43 and atrial and ventricular markers. Furthermore, differentiated cells were positive for the calcium pumps CACNA1C and SERCA2a, with approximately 30% of (Cardiopoietic)AF-derived CM-like cells responding to caffeine or adrenergic stimulation. Some spontaneous rare beating foci were also observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that (Cardiopoietic)AF cells might differentiate toward the cardiac lineage giving rise to CM-like cells characterized by several cardiac-specific molecular, structural, and functional properties.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
s41598-018-30537-z.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: PDF editoriale
Dimensione 2.27 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.27 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/695044
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 12
  • Scopus 18
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 18
social impact