title: Cardiomyogenic potential of human adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate towards a cardiomyogenic phenotype IN VITRO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bone marrow samples were aspirated from 30 patients undergoing open heart surgery from the anterior iliac crest. Second passaged cells were treated with 10 microM 5-azacytidine. As control groups we used cells not expanded in culture and cells untreated with 5-azacytidine. Morphologic characteristics were analysed by confocal and electron microscopy. The expression of the cytoskeletal protein vimentin and muscle-specific myocin heavy chain was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The expression of the cardiomyocyte specific genes alpha-cardiac actin, beta-myocin heavy chain and cardiac troponin-T was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mesenchymal stem cells were spindle-shaped with irregular processes. Cells treated with 5-azacytidine assumed a stick-like morphology. They connected with adjoining cells to form myotube-like structures. Numerous myofilaments were detected in induced cells which were immunohistochemically positive for myosin heavy chain and vimentin. The mRNAs of all specific cardiac genes were expressed in both induced and uninduced cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells treated with 5-aza can differentiate towards a cardiomyogenic lineage IN VITRO.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. antonits@otenet.gr <antonits@otenet.gr>
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antonitsis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ioannidou-Papagiannaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaidoglou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charokopos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalogeridis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouzi-Koliakou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kyriakopoulou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klonizakis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014746:Vimentin; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D001374:Azacitidine