title: Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells Is Regulated by the Combined Low Dose Treatment of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and 5-Azacytidine.
abstract: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are used in cardiac tissue engineering for the regeneration of diseased hearts. We examined the differentiation of rat BMMSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells when induced with a combined low dose treatment of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and 5-azacytidine (5-AZA). Results showed that cell proliferation in the combined low dose treatment group of TGF-β1 and 5-AZA was increased compared with the TGF-β1 group or the 5-AZA group. The cell apoptosis was relieved by combined TGF-β1 and 5-AZA treatment compared to 5-AZA treatment alone. The number of cells positive for myosin heavy chain, connexin-43, α-actin, and troponin I in the combined treatment group was higher than those observed in the TGF-β1 group or the 5-AZA group. Moreover, the combined low dose treatment group of TGF-β1 and 5-AZA reveals the strongest expression of troponin I, α-actin, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (p-ErK1/2) among the treatment groups. These results suggest that the combined low dose treatment of TGF-β1 and 5-AZA can improve the differentiation potential of rat BMMSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells and alleviate cell damage effects in vitro. The mechanism that is involved in influencing differentiation may be associated with p-ErK1/2.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Shutian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xingxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Huangtai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Emergency Center, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Shaoping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nie