Wnt11 facilitates embryonic stem cell differentiation to Nkx2.5-positive cardiomyocytes.
Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in the control of morphogenesis in several tissues. Herein, we describe the role of Wnt11 during cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem cells. First, we examined the expression profile of Wnt11 during the course of differentiation in embryoid bodies, and then compared its expression in retinoic acid-treated embryoid bodies with that in untreated. In differentiating embryoid bodies, Wnt11 expression rose along with that of Nkx2.5 expression and continued to increase. When the embryoid bodies were treated with retinoic acid, Wnt11 expression decreased in parallel with the decreased expression of cardiac genes. Further, treatment of embryoid bodies with medium containing Wnt11 increased the expression of cardiac marker genes. Based on these results, we propose that Wnt11 plays an important role for cardiac development by embryoid bodies, and may be a key regulator of cardiac muscle cell proliferation and differentiation during heart development.
Terami
Hiromi
H
Department of Bioscience, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan.
Hidaka
Kyoko
K
Katsumata
Takashi
T
Iio
Akio
A
Morisaki
Takayuki
T
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C092720:NKX2-5 protein, Xenopus; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C512785:wnt11b protein, Xenopus; D014212:Tretinoin