title: Alpha-lipoic acid enhances DMSO-induced cardiomyogenic differentiation of P19 cells.
abstract: Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) is a potent antioxidant that acts as an essential cofactor in mitochondrial dehydrogenase reactions. α-LA has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties, and is used to improve symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. However, the role of α-LA in stem cell differentiation and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, we showed that α-LA significantly promoted dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced cardiomyogenic differentiation of mouse embryonic carcinoma P19 cells. α-LA dose dependently increased beating embryonic body (EB) percentages of DMSO-differentiated P19 cells. The expressions of cardiac specific genes TNNT2, Nkx2.5, GATA4, MEF2C, and MLC2V and cardiac isoform of troponin T (cTnT)-positively stained cell population were significantly up-regulated by the addition of α-LA. We also demonstrated that the differentiation time after EB formation was critical for α-LA to take effect. Interestingly, without DMSO treatment, α-LA did not stimulate the cardiomyogenic differentiation of P19 cells. Further investigation indicated that collagen synthesis-enhancing activity, instead of the antioxidative property, plays a significant role in the cardiomyogenic differentiation-promoting function of α-LA. These findings highlight the potential use of α-LA for regenerative therapies in heart diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
authors.forename: Xinghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
authors.forename: Qinghui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China jinpeng06@tom.com lixueqi06@163.com.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China jinpeng06@tom.com lixueqi06@163.com.
authors.forename: Xueqi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017931:DNA Primers; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide
keywords: P19 cells; alpha-lipoic acid; cardiomyocyte differentiation; collagen