c-Kit super(+) Bone Marrow Stem Cells Differentiate into Functional Cardiac Myocytes

• Published in: Clinical and translational science 2008-01, Vol.2 (1), p.26-32
• Main Authors: Kubo, H, Berretta, R M, Jaleel, N, Angert, D, Houser, SR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1752-8054
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-8062.2008.00089.x

The utility of bone marrow cells (BMCs) to regenerate cardiac myocytes is controversial. The present study examined the capacity of different types of BMCs to generate functional cardiac myocytes. Isolated c-kit super(+) BMCs (BMSCs), c-kit super(-) and crude BMCs from the adult feline femur were membrane stained with PKH26 dye or infected with a control enhanced green fluorescence protein transcript (EGFP)-adenovirus prior to co-culture upon neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). Co-cultured cells were immuno-stained for c-kit, alpha -tropomyosin, alpha -actinin, connexin 43 (Cx43) and Ki67 and analyzed with confocal microscopy. Electrophysiology of BMSC derived myocytes were compared to NRVMs within the same culture dish. Gap junction function was analyzed by fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP). BMCs proliferated and differentiated into cardiac myocytes during the first 48 hours of co-culturing. These newly formed cardiac myocytes were able to contract spontaneously or synchronously with neighboring NRVMs. The myogenic rate of c-kit super(+) BMSCs was significantly greater than c-kit super(-) and crude BMCs (41.2 plus or minus 2.1, 6.1 plus or minus 1.2, and 17.1 plus or minus 1.5%, respectively). The newly formed cardiac myocytes exhibited an immature electrophysiological phenotype until they became electrically coupled to NRVMs through functional gap junctions. BMSCs did not become functional myocytes in the absence of NRVMs. In conclusion, c-kit super(+) BMSCs have the ability to transdifferentiate into functional cardiac myocytes.