Ghrelin is broadly expressed in myocardial tissues, where it exerts different functions. It also has been found to have a wide variety of biological functions on cell differentiation and tissue development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ghrelin on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation in infarcted cardiac microenvironment. The hESCs grown on feeder layers expressed several pluripotential markers including alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Four weeks after transplantation into rat infarcted hearts, the hESCs and their progeny cells survived and formed intracardiac grafts were 54.7% and 19.6% respectively in ghrelin- and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated groups. Double immunostaining with anti-human Sox9 and anti-HNA or anti-human fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk1) and anti β-tubulin showed that the human grafts were in development. However, double positive stains were only found in the ghrelin-treated group. In addition, the hESC injection protocol was insufficient to restore heart function of the acute myocardial infarction model. Our study, therefore, provides a new insight of ghrelin on promoting hESC survival and differentiation in rat infarcted cardiac microenvironment. This may give a clue for therapy for myocardial infarction by hESCs or progeny cells.
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