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Cardiomyocytes differentiated in vitro from embryonic stem cells developmentally express cardiac-specific genes and ionic currents

Victor A. Maltsev, A. M. Wobus, J. Rohwedel, Michael Bäder, Jürgen Hescheler

Circulation Research, 1994

480 citations

Abstract

Cardiomyocytes differentiated in vitro from pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells of line D3 via embryo-like aggregates (embryoid bodies) were characterized by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique during the entire differentiation period. Spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes were enzymatically isolated by collagenase from embryoid body outgrowths of early, intermediate, and terminal differentiation stages. The early differentiated cardiomyocytes exhibited an outwardly rectifying, transient K+ current sensitive to 4-aminopyridine and an inward Ca2+ current but no Na+ current. The Ca2+ current showed all features of L-type Ca2+ current, being highly sensitive to 1,4-dihydropyridines but not to omega-conotoxin. Cardiomyocytes of intermediate stage were characterized by the additional expression of cardiac-specific Na+ current, the delayed K+ current, and If current. Terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes expressed a Ca2+ channel density about three times higher than that of early stage. In addition, two types of inwardly rectifying K+ currents (IK1 and IK,Ach) and the ATP-modulated K+ current were found. During cardiomyocyte differentiation, several distinct cell populations could be distinguished by their sets of ionic channels and typical action potentials presumably representing cardiac tissues with properties of sinus node, atrium, and ventricle. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed the transcription of alpha- and beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain…

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