title: Coculture of embryonic ventricular myocytes and mouse embryonic stem cell enhance intercellular signaling by upregulation of connexin43.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stem cell therapy has been proposed as a potential treatment strategy for ischemic cardiomyopathy in recent years. A variety of stem cells or stem cell-derived cells can potentially be used for transplantation. Despite improved cardiac function after treatment, one of the major problems is the poor integration between host and donor cells which can lead to post-transplantation arrhythmia and poor long-term outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we cocultured murine embryonic stem cells (mES) with murine embryonic ventricular myocytes (mEVs) in hanging drops to assess the cellular interaction and function of mES-derived cardiomyocytes under these conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that when mEVs are added to a culture system of embryonic stem cells, the number of spontaneously beating areas in embryoid bodies (EBs) increases, intercellular gap junction communication is enhanced by upregulation of Cx43 expression at the mid-developmental stage and Cx43 is distributed more orderly between cardiomyocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest mES-derived cardiomyocytes are able to form effective signaling pathways through coculture with mEVs which is important for providing more functional grafts for cardiac cell therapy by improving the integration between transplanted and host cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Chinese-German Stem Cell Center, The Key Labotory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Huamin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yuting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yunjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jiaoya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Jinxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hescheler
authors.forename: Minjie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058732:Embryoid Bodies; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020107:Troponin T / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020107:Troponin T