Endothelial cells regulate cardiomyocyte development from embryonic stem cells

• Published in: Journal of cellular biochemistry 2010-09, Vol.111 (1), p.29-39
• Main Authors: Chen, Kang, Bai, Hao, Arzigian, Melanie, Gao, Yong-Xing, Bao, Jing, Wu, Wen-Shu, Shen, Wei-Feng, Wu, Liqun, Wang, Zack Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; angiostatin; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; cardiomyocytes; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Line; Differentiation; Embryo cells; embryonic stem (ES) cells; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells - drug effects; Embryonic Stem Cells - physiology; endostatin; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - physiology; EphB4; ephrin; Ephrin-B2 - genetics; Ephrin-B2 - metabolism; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Myocytes, Cardiac - cytology; Myocytes, Cardiac - physiology; Protein-tyrosine kinase receptors; Receptor, EphB4 - genetics; Receptor, EphB4 - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Stem cells
• ISSN: 0730-2312; 1097-4644; 1097-4644
• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22680

The molecules and environment that direct pluripotent stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes are largely unknown. Here, we determined a critical role of receptor tyrosine kinase, EphB4, in regulating cardiomyocyte generation from embryonic stem (ES) cells through endothelial cells. The number of spontaneous contracting cardiomyocytes, and the expression of cardiac‐specific genes, including α‐MHC and MLC‐2V, was significantly decreased in EphB4‐null ES cells. EphB4 was expressed in endothelial cells underneath contracting cardiomyocytes, but not in cardiomyocytes. Angiogenic inhibitors, including endostatin and angiostatin, inhibited endothelial cell differentiation and diminished cardiomyogenesis in ES cells. Generation of functional cardiomyocytes and the expression of cardiac‐specific genes were significantly enhanced by co‐culture of ES cells with human endothelial cells. Furthermore, the defects of cardiomyocyte differentiation in EphB4‐deficient ES cells were rescued by human endothelial cells. For the first time, our study demonstrated that endothelial cells play an essential role in facilitating cardiomyocyte differentiation from pluripotent stem cells. EphB4 signaling is a critical component of the endothelial niche to regulate regeneration of cardiomyocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 29–39, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.