title: Dynamic mitochondrial changes during differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells into cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Murine P19 embryonal carcinoma cells are multipotent cells that can differentiate into cardiomyocytes when treated with dimethyl sulfoxide. This experimental model provides an invaluable tool to study different aspects of cardiac differentiation, such as the function of cardiac‑specific transcription factors and signaling pathways, and the regulation of contractile protein expression. The role of mitochondria during cardiac differentiation is unclear. In this context, we have examined the mitochondrial-related changes in undifferentiated and differentiated P19 cells. We observed that mitochondrial DNA content sharply decreased in P19 cell aggregates compared to undifferentiated cells, accompanied by decreased levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Following the aggregation stage, the mitochondrial DNA content reached its highest level on day 7 of the differentiation process, with the intracellular ROS level showing a trend to increase, similar to cellular ATP production. In conclusion, our study on differentiating P19 embryonal carcinoma cells provides new insights into the role of mitochondria in the differentiation of P19 stem cells into beating cardiomyocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qin-Kao
authors.initials: QK
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gui-Xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling-Mei
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D054278:Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide