Overexpression of GATA binding protein 4 and myocyte enhancer factor 2C induces differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac-like cells

BACKGROUND Heart diseases are the primary cause of death all over the world.Following myocardial infarction,billions of cells die,resulting in a huge loss of cardiac function.Stem cell-based therapies have appeared as a new area to support heart regeneration.The transcription factors GATA binding protein 4(GATA-4)and myocyte enhancer factor 2C(MEF2C)are considered prominent factors in the development of the cardiovascular system.AIM To explore the potential of GATA-4 and MEF2C for the cardiac differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs).METHODS hUC-MSCs were characterized morphologically and immunologically by the presence of specific markers of MSCs via immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry,and by their potential to differentiate into osteocytes and adipocytes.hUC-MSCs were transfected with GATA-4,MEF2C,and their combination to direct the differentiation.Cardiac differentiation was confirmed by semiquant itative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry.RESULTS hUC-MSCs expressed specific cell surface markers CD105,CD90,CD44,and vimentin but lack the expression of CD45.The transcription factors GATA-4 and MEF2C,and their combination induced differentiation in hUC-MSCs with significant expression of cardiac genes i.e.,GATA-4,MEF2C,NK2 homeobox 5(NKX2.5),MHC,and connexin-43,and cardiac proteins GATA-4,NKX2.5,cardiac troponin T,and connexin-43.CONCLUSION Transfection with GATA-4,MEF2C,and their combination effectively induces cardiac differentiation in hUC-MSCs.These genetically modified MSCs could be a promising treatment option for heart diseases in the future.

Association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α gene polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes in southern Chinese population:role of altered interaction with myocyte enhancer factor 2C

Background Some single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-y coactivator （PGC）-1α gene have been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes in different populations, and studies on Chinese patients yielded controversial results. The objective of this case-control study was to explore the relationship between SNPs of PGC-1α and type 2 diabetes in the southern Chinese population and to determine whether the common variants： Gly482Ser and Thr394Thr, in the PGC-1α gene have any impacts on interaction with myocyte enhancer factor （MEF） 2C. Methods The SNPs in all exons of the PGC-1α gene was investigated in 50 type 2 diabetic patients using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism （PCR-SSCP） and direct sequencing. Thereafter, 263 type 2 diabetic patients and 282 healthy controls were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP）. A bacterial two-hybrid system and site-directed mutagenesis were used to investigate whether Gly482Ser and Thr394Thr variants in the PGC-1α gene alter the interaction with MEF2C. Results Three frequent SNPs （Thr394Thr, Gly482Ser and Thr528Thr） were found in exons of the PGC-1α gene. Only the Gly482Ser variant had a different distribution between diabetic patients and healthy subjects, with the 482Ser allele more frequent in patients than in controls （40.1% vs 29.3%, P〈0.01）. Even in controls, the 482Ser（A） carriers were more likely to have higher levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the 482Gly（G） carriers. The 394A-482G-528A haplotype was associated with protection from diabetes, while the 394A-482A-528A was associated with the susceptibility to diabetes. The bacterial two-hybrid system and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the 482Ser variant was less efficient than the 482Gly variant to interact with MEF2C, whereas the 394Thr （A） had a synergic effect on the interaction between 482Ser variant and MEF2C. Conclusions The results suggested that the 482Ser variant of PGC-1α conferred the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in the southern Chinese population. The underlying mechanism may be attributable, at least in part, to the altered interaction between the different variants （Gly482Ser, Thr394Thr） in the PGC-1α gene and MEF2C.

MEF2C promotes M1 macrophage polarization and Th1 responses

The polarization of macrophages to the M1 or M2 phenotype has a pivotal role in inflammation and host defense;however,the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.Here,we show that myocyte enhancer factor 2 C(MEF2C)is essential for regulating M1 macrophage polarization in response to infection and inflammation.Global gene expression analysis demonstrated that MEF2C deficiency in macrophages downregulated the expression of M1 phenotypic markers and upregulated the expression of M2 phenotypic markers.MEF2C significantly promoted the expression of interleukin-12 p35 subunit(Il12a)and interleukin-12 p40 subunit(Il12b).Myeloid-specific Mef2c-knockout mice showed reduced IL-12 production and impaired Th1 responses,which led to susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection and protected against DSS-induced IBD in vivo.Mechanistically,we showed that MEF2C directly activated the transcription of Il12a and Il12b.These findings reveal a new function of MEF2C in macrophage polarization and Th1 responses and identify MEF2C as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.