Spontaneous cardiomyocyte differentiation from adipose tissue stroma cells

Circ Res. 2004 Feb 6;94(2):223-9. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000109792.43271.47. Epub 2003 Dec 1.

Abstract

Cardiomyocyte regeneration is limited in adult life. Thus, the identification of a putative source of cardiomyocyte progenitors is of great interest to provide a usable model in vitro and new perspective in regenerative therapy. As adipose tissues were recently demonstrated to contain pluripotent stem cells, the emergence of cardiomyocyte phenotype from adipose-derived cells was investigated. We demonstrated that rare beating cells with cardiomyocyte features could be identified after culture of adipose stroma cells without addition of 5-azacytidine. The cardiomyocyte phenotype was first identified by morphological observation, confirmed with expression of specific cardiac markers, immunocytochemistry staining, and ultrastructural analysis, revealing the presence of ventricle- and atrial-like cells. Electrophysiological studies performed on early culture revealed a pacemaker activity of the cells. Finally, functional studies showed that adrenergic agonist stimulated the beating rate whereas cholinergic agonist decreased it. Taken together, this study demonstrated that functional cardiomyocyte-like cells could be directly obtained from adipose tissue. According to the large amount of this tissue in adult mammal, it could represent a useful source of cardiomyocyte progenitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / cytology*
  • Adrenergic Agents / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Atropine / pharmacology
  • Carbachol / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cholinergic Agents / pharmacology
  • Clone Cells / cytology
  • Heart Atria / cytology
  • Heart Ventricles / cytology
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Myoblasts, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Phenotype
  • Propranolol / pharmacology
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • Stromal Cells / cytology*

Substances

  • Adrenergic Agents
  • Cholinergic Agents
  • RNA
  • Atropine
  • Carbachol
  • Propranolol
  • Isoproterenol