title: Electrostimulation induces cardiomyocyte predifferentiation of fibroblasts.
abstract: Stem-cell therapy has become a promising therapeutic tool for myocardial repair. Cardiac pre-committed cells, which complete their differentiation in the myocardium, may reduce fibrosis and restore muscle function. However, many questions concerning a precise, functional integration of injected cells remain unanswered. Fibroblasts regulate the cardiac extracellular matrix and are the most abundant cell population in an infarcted area. Electrostimulation is a well-known trophic factor and can induce phenotypic changes in myoblasts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation to induce pre-commitment of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes in vitro. Using short-time electrostimulation in a cytokine-free culture system, we induced pre-commitment of two fibroblast cell lines to a cardiomyocyte phenotype. This partial differentiation in vitro may facilitate further differentiation within the cardiac environment and result in better electro-mechanical integration of the therapeutically introduced cells.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Regeneration Laboratories, Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 3025 Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. genovesej@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spadaccio
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Jaclyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habe
authors.forename: Johnna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Amit N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041702:BALB 3T3 Cells; D002452:Cell Count; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D019210:Troponin I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D019210:Troponin I