title: Reverse engineering life: physical and chemical mimetics for controlled stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Our ability to manipulate stem cells in order to induce differentiation along a desired developmental pathway has improved immeasurably in recent years. That is in part because we have a better understanding of the intracellular and extracellular signals that regulate differentiation. However, there has also been a realization that stem cell differentiation is not regulated only by chemical signals but also by the physical milieu in which a particular stem cell exists. In this regard we are challenged to mimic both chemical and physical environments. Herein we describe a method to induce stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes using a combination of chemical and physical cues. This method can be applied to produce differentiated cells for research and potentially for cell-based therapy of cardiomyopathies.
authors.affiliation: Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Skuse
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lamkin-Kennard
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C525809:BMP4 protein, human; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon