title: Amine-enriched surface modification facilitates expansion, attachment, and maintenance of human cardiac-derived c-kit positive progenitor cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stem cells have a low expansion rate and are difficult to maintain in vitro. To overcome the problems of cardiovascular regeneration, we developed a novel method of stem cell cultivation in culture vessels with amine and carboxyl coatings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We isolated cardiac stem/progenitor cells from infant-derived heart tissue by using c-kit antibody (human cardiac-derived c-kit positive progenitor cells; hCPC(c-kit+)); the cells differentiated into endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and cardiomyocytes. To characterize the effect of surface modification on hCPC(c-kit+) expansion, cellular attachment, c-kit expression maintenance, and cardiomyocyte differentiation, we tested hCPC(c-kit+) cultured on non-coated (control), amine-coated (amine), and carboxyl-coated (carboxyl) vessels. Ex vivo proliferation, c-kit maintenance, and cellular attachment were significantly enhanced in the amine group. The amine coating also increased procollagen type I (pro-COL1) expression and increased phosphorylation signals, such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and cytosolic Src, as well as enhanced ERK/CDK2 signaling. In addition, there was significant downregulation of the stress signal transducer, JNK, in the amine group. However, cardiomyogenesis remained unchanged in the control, amine, and carboxyl groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although surface modifications had no effect on early induction cardiomyogenesis, amine-enriched surface modification may increase hCPC(c-kit+) expansion. The amine-enriched surface improved cellular proliferation and attachment during ex vivo hCPC(c-kit+) expansion, possibly by modulating intracellular signal transducers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. shchoi@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: Sung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seok Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sae Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asahara
authors.forename: Wonhee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Sang-Mo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sang Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit