Bidirectional communication between neural and cardiac cells in human amniotic fluid.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether amniotic fluid cells contain cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells.


METHODS
In this experimental study, cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for mRNA expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), vimentin and oxytocin (OT) receptor via RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was also performed with MAP-2, OT receptor, vimentin and troponin I antibodies.


RESULTS
In all samples, MAP-2, vimentin and mRNA expression were detectable. OT receptor was also detectable. The cells showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of neurogenic cells including MAP-2 and vimentin. The cells also showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of cardiac muscle such as troponin I and for OT receptors. This report also shows that atosiban (an OT antagonist) added to culture medium of amniotic fluid cells did not induce neurogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed concurrent development of cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells suggests that amniotic fluid contains progenitor cells and there is bidirectional communication between both cell types.
Stefanidis
Konstantinos
K
Laboratory of Stem Cells, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. kstefanidis@med.uoa.gr
Loutradis
Dimitris
D
Anastasiadou
Vasiliki
V
Dinopoulou
Vasiliki
V
Eleni
Evangelia
E
Arampatzi
Eleni
E
Lekka
Kalioppi
K
Mesogitis
Spiros
S
Antsaklis
Aris
A
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D005819:Genetic Markers; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D014746:Vimentin; C047046:atosiban; D014668:Vasotocin