title: Resveratrol promotes differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to cardiomyocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are capable to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, with the potential to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, directed differentiation is still a challenge faced by scientists. As a natural substance in grapes, resveratrol (RV) is important for cardiovascular protection. The studies of RV and its effects on ESC differentiation have potential clinical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), we investigated the effects of different concentrations of RV (5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 μmol/L) exposure on mESCs viability, expression levels of cardiac marker genes in embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from mESCs, expression levels of maturity indicative cardiac markers in cardiomyocytes derived from mESCs, and the beating properties of EBs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 10 μmol/L of RV showed no toxicity on cell viability and was the optimal concentration to promote mESC differentiation, induce mESC differentiation to cardiomyocytes, and gain the beating properties of EBs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RV can successfully direct the differentiation of mESCs into cardiomyocytes, shedding light on its future applications to treat cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Chengjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qiuting
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D058732:Embryoid Bodies / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: cardiomyocytes; differentiation; embryonic stem cells; resveratrol