Previously, mouse bone marrow-derived stem cells （MSC） treated with the unspecific DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine were reported to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. The aim of the present study was t...Previously, mouse bone marrow-derived stem cells （MSC） treated with the unspecific DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine were reported to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of a similar differentiation strategy in human mononuclear cells obtained from healthy bone marrow donors. After 1-3 passages, cultures were exposed for 24 h to 5-azacytidine （3 μM） followed by 6 weeks of further culture. Drug treatment did not induce expression of myogenic marker MyoD or cardiac markers Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 and did not yield beating cells during follow-up. In patch clamp experiments, approximately 10-15% of treated and untreated cells exhibited L-type Ca^2＋ currents. Almost all cells showed outwardly rectifying K^＋ currents of rapid or slow activation kinetics. Mean current amplitude at ＋60 mV doubled after 6 weeks of treatment compared with time-matched controls. Membrane capacitance of treated cells was significantly larger than in controls 2 weeks after treatment and remained high after 6 weeks, Expression levels of mRNAs for the K^＋ channels Kv 1,1, Kv 1,5, Kv2,1, Kv4,3 and KCNMA 1 and for the Ca^2＋ channel Cav 1.2 were not affected by 5-azacytidine. Treatment with potassium channel blockers tetraethylammonium and clofilium at concentrations shown previously to inhibit rapid or slowly activating K^＋ currents of hMSC inhibited proliferation of these cells. Our results suggest that despite the absence of differentiation ofhMSC into cardiomyocytes, treatme.nt with 5-azacytidine caused profound changes in current density.展开更多
Objective To investigate the potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrow to undergo cardiomyogenic differentiation after exposure to 5-azacytidine (5-aza) in vitro. Methods A small ...Objective To investigate the potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrow to undergo cardiomyogenic differentiation after exposure to 5-azacytidine (5-aza) in vitro. Methods A small bone marrow aspirate was taken from the iliac crest of human volunteers, and hMSCs were isolated by 1.073g/mL Percoll and propagated in the right cell culturing medium as previously described. The phenotypes of hMSCs were characterized with the use of flow cytometry. The hMSCs were cultured in cell culture medium (as control) and medium mixed with 5-aza for cellular differentiation. We examined by immunohistochemistry at 21 days the inducement of desmin, cardiac-specific cardiac troponin I (cTnI), GATA 4 and connexin-43 respectively. Results The hMSCs are fibroblast-like morphology and express CD44+ CD29+ CD90+ / CD34- CD45- CD31- CD11a. After 5-aza treatment, 20-30% hMSCs connected with adjoining cells and coalesced into myotube structures after 14days. Twenty-one days after 5-aza treatment, immunofluorescence showed that some cells expressed desmin,GATA4, cTnI and connexin-43 in 5,10 μmol/L 5-aza groups, but no cardiac specific protein was found in neither 3μmol/L 5-aza group nor in the control group. The ratio of cTnI positively stained cells in 10 μmol/L group was higher than that in 5 μmol/L group (65.3 ± 4.7% vs 48.2 ± 5.4%, P ＜ 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed that myofilaments were formed. The induced cells expressed cardiac-myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Conclusions Theses findings suggest that hMSCs from adult bone marrow can be differentiated into cardiac-like muscle cells with 5-aza inducement in vitro and the differentiation is in line with the 5-aza concentration. (J Geriatr Cardiol 2004;1(2) :101-107. )展开更多
In this study,we investigated the effects of different concentrations of 5-azacytidine(AZA),a DNA methyltransferase in-hibitor,on the growth,antioxidant activities and germination of pellicle cysts of Scrippsiella acu...In this study,we investigated the effects of different concentrations of 5-azacytidine(AZA),a DNA methyltransferase in-hibitor,on the growth,antioxidant activities and germination of pellicle cysts of Scrippsiella acuminata.The purpose of this study is to understand the toxic effects of AZA on marine microalgae,and to demonstrate the effect of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors on the germination of pellicle cysts.Results showed that AZA inhibited the growth of S.acuminata significantly,and displaced a clear dose-dependent inhibition trend with the 96h EC50 of 146.77μmolL^(-1)(35.84mgL^(-1)).Pellicle cysts of S.acuminata were less sensitive to AZA than the vegetative cells,and the EC50 value of AZA to the germination of pellicle cysts of S.acuminata was 8.08mmolL^(-1)(1.97g L^(-1)).After exposed to AZA,the antioxidant activities in S.acuminata responded rapidly and significantly.Among them,soluble pro-tein and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were more sensitive to AZA,and significant promotions occurred after exposed to 10μmolL^(-1)AZA for 24h.Meanwhile,malondialdehyde(MDA)contents in algal cells did not change significantly after exposed to low concen-trations of AZA,but increased firstly and then decreased under high concentration of AZA.The glutathione(GSH)levels in S.acu-minata increased significantly under high concentrations of AZA,and remained unchanged at low concentrations of AZA.The results suggested that the enhanced protein level and SOD activity of S.acuminata eliminated reactive oxygen species(ROS)to a certain ex-tent,and thus protected algal cells against damages of ROS caused by AZA.展开更多
DNA methylation is widespread in plants and associated with plant development and defense mechanisms.However,the relationship between DNA methylation and plant secondary metabolism has rarely been reported.Here,when b...DNA methylation is widespread in plants and associated with plant development and defense mechanisms.However,the relationship between DNA methylation and plant secondary metabolism has rarely been reported.Here,when birch suspension cells were treated with 5-azacytidine(5-azaC),which blocks DNA methylation,triterpenoid accumulation was significantly promoted and antioxidant and defense enzymatic activity changed.For studying triterpenoid accumulation,0.1 mM azaC was optimal.A qRT-PCR assay revealed increased expression of genes encoding key triterpenoid biosynthetic enzymes.Evaluation of methylation polymorphisms at CCGG sites showed that the methylation level was lower in cells treated with 5-azaC.These results demonstrated that 5-azaC treatment led to an increase in the production of triterpenoids in cell cultures through a mechanism that involved in DNA methylation,which resulted in the induction of genes encoding the key enzymes.The study provides evidence of a relationship between DNA methylation and regulation of secondary metabolism.展开更多
Objective 5-azacytidine could induce the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes （CMs）. The aim of this study was to screen the optimal condition for 5-azacytidine inducing differentiation of human mesench...Objective 5-azacytidine could induce the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes （CMs）. The aim of this study was to screen the optimal condition for 5-azacytidine inducing differentiation of human mesenchumal stem cells （hMSCs） into CMs, and the effect of 5-azacytidine on adherence, cell vigor and chromosome karyotype of hMSCs. Methods hMSCs were isolated from human bone marrow and cultured in vitro. The phenotypes ofhMSCs were identified by flow cytometric analyses. MTT test was used to investigate the effect of different concentrations of 5-azacytidine on proliferation ofhMSCs. Four weeks after 5-azacytidine induction, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, single-cell action potentials, detection of cardio-enzyme AST and LDH, cell adherence, cell viability and chromosome karyotype test were performed. Results The typical morphological features of hMSCs were fibroblast-like in shape, hMSCs expressed CD44 and CD105,and did not express CD34, CD45 and CD31. The optimal concentration of 5-azacytidine was 10μ mol/L. The shape of hMSCs treated with 5-Azacytidine changed from fusiform to polygon or astrocyte gradually, and passaged cells were evenly arranged as polarity structure. Indueed-hMSCs connected with neighbouring cells, fbrming myotube-like structures 4 weeks later. It was confirmed that induced hMSCs shaped myotubule-like structure and had some of micro-histologic structures of CMs by TEM. RT-PCR showed that induced hMSCs expressed cardiac specific product BNNP and early cardio-myogenesis specific transcription factor NKX2.5mRNA. Besides, induced-MSCs led to the weak action potential and secreted cardio-enzyme AST and LDH. There was no significant difference in cell adherence and viability before and after induction. Both hMSCs and induced-hNSCs kept stable normal diploid nucleus. Conclusion The optimal condition for inducing effect of 5-azacytidine is 10 la mol/L and 24-hour incubation; and under this condition, the adherence, vigor and chromosome karyotype ofhMSCs would not be affected （J Geriatr Cardio12009; 6：182-188）.展开更多
目的探讨5-Aza-dC和TSA对肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)细胞中3-OST-2甲基化水平、基因表达以及对核转录因子UHRF1(ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1,也称为ICBP90/NP95)表达的影响。方法采用甲基化特异性P...目的探讨5-Aza-dC和TSA对肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)细胞中3-OST-2甲基化水平、基因表达以及对核转录因子UHRF1(ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1,也称为ICBP90/NP95)表达的影响。方法采用甲基化特异性PCR(methylation specific PCR,MSP)法检测药物作用前后HCC细胞株中3-OST-2甲基化的状态改变;采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR法检测3-OST-2和UHRF1 mRNA的表达变化;采用细胞爬片免疫组化法检测UHRF1蛋白表达。结果 3-OST-2在HCC细胞株中呈完全甲基化状态,5-Aza-dC或TSA均能部分逆转3-OST-2甲基化,其mRNA表达分别增加2.7倍和4.9倍,两种药物联合处理后,3-OST-2甲基化被完全逆转,其mRNA表达增加9.1倍。5-Aza-dC或TSA均能降低UHRF1 mRNA和蛋白的表达,TSA比5-Aza-dC疗效更好(P<0.01),两种药物联用具有协同作用(P<0.01)。结论启动子甲基化和组蛋白修饰共同导致3-OST-2基因表达降低。5-Aza-dC和TSA单独作用均能部分逆转3-OST-2甲基化,增加其mRNA表达,抑制核蛋白UHRF1表达可能是其中机制之一。展开更多
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are pluripotent stem cells that show a vital potential in the clinical application for cell transplantation. In the present paper, proteomic techniques were used to ...Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are pluripotent stem cells that show a vital potential in the clinical application for cell transplantation. In the present paper, proteomic techniques were used to approach the protein profiles associated with porcine bone marrow MSCs and investigate the regulation of MSC proteins on the effect of 5-azacytidine （5-aza）. Over 1,700 protein species were separated from MSCs according to gel analysis. Compared with the expression profiling of control MSCs, there were 11 protein spots up-regulated and 26 downregulated in the protein pattern of 5-aza-treated cells. A total of 21 proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis, among which some interesting proteins, such as alpha B-crystallin, annexin A2, and stathmin 1, had been reported to involve in cell proliferation and differentiation through different signaling pathways. Our data should be useful for the future study of MSC differentiation and apoptosis.展开更多
Background Cellular cardiomyoplasty by transplantation of various cell types has been investigated as potential treatments for the improvement of cardiac function after myocardial injury. A major barrier for the clini...Background Cellular cardiomyoplasty by transplantation of various cell types has been investigated as potential treatments for the improvement of cardiac function after myocardial injury. A major barrier for the clinical application of cell transplantation is obtaining sufficiently large quantities of suitable cells. AIIogeneic cellular cardiomyoplasty may provide an alternative source of abundant, transplantable, myogenic cells by in vitro manipulation of cardiac fibroblasts using chemicals including 5-azacytidine. This study evaluated cardiomyogenic differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts, their survival in myocardial scar tissue, and the effect of the implanted cells on heart function. Methods Primary cardiac fibroblasts from neonatal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine （10 pmol/L） or control. Treatment of 5-azacytidine caused myogenic differentiation of cultured cardiac fibroblasts, as defined by elongation and fusion into multinucleated myotubes with sarcomeric structures as identified by electron microscopy, and positive immunostaining for cardiac specific proteins, troponin I and 13-myosin heavy chain （13-MHC） and the gap junction protein connexin 43. The myogenic cells （1.0x106） were transplanted into the infarcted myocardium 2 weeks after coronary artery occlusion. Results By 1 month after transplantation, the converted fibroblasts gave rise to a cluster of cardiac-like muscle cells that in the hearts occupied a large part of the scar with positive immunostaining for the myogenic proteins troponin I and 13-MHC. Engrafted cells also expressed the gap junction protein connexin 43 in a disorganized manner. There was no positive staining in the control hearts treated with injections of culture medium. Heart function was evaluated at 6 weeks after myocardial injury with echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements. Improvement in cardiac function was seen in the hearts transplanted with the 5-azacytidine-treated cardiac fibroblasts which was absent in the hearts treated with control. Conclusion The 5-azacytidine has a unique capacity to induce myogenesis in cardiac fibroblasts in vitro and transplantation of cardiac-like muscle cells into ventricular scar tissue improves myocardial function.展开更多
文摘Previously, mouse bone marrow-derived stem cells （MSC） treated with the unspecific DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine were reported to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of a similar differentiation strategy in human mononuclear cells obtained from healthy bone marrow donors. After 1-3 passages, cultures were exposed for 24 h to 5-azacytidine （3 μM） followed by 6 weeks of further culture. Drug treatment did not induce expression of myogenic marker MyoD or cardiac markers Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 and did not yield beating cells during follow-up. In patch clamp experiments, approximately 10-15% of treated and untreated cells exhibited L-type Ca^2＋ currents. Almost all cells showed outwardly rectifying K^＋ currents of rapid or slow activation kinetics. Mean current amplitude at ＋60 mV doubled after 6 weeks of treatment compared with time-matched controls. Membrane capacitance of treated cells was significantly larger than in controls 2 weeks after treatment and remained high after 6 weeks, Expression levels of mRNAs for the K^＋ channels Kv 1,1, Kv 1,5, Kv2,1, Kv4,3 and KCNMA 1 and for the Ca^2＋ channel Cav 1.2 were not affected by 5-azacytidine. Treatment with potassium channel blockers tetraethylammonium and clofilium at concentrations shown previously to inhibit rapid or slowly activating K^＋ currents of hMSC inhibited proliferation of these cells. Our results suggest that despite the absence of differentiation ofhMSC into cardiomyocytes, treatme.nt with 5-azacytidine caused profound changes in current density.
基金supported by research grants from State 863 high technology R&D Project of China(2002AA205051and 2003AA205160)the National Key Rroject for Basic Research of China(2001CB509906)
文摘Objective To investigate the potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrow to undergo cardiomyogenic differentiation after exposure to 5-azacytidine (5-aza) in vitro. Methods A small bone marrow aspirate was taken from the iliac crest of human volunteers, and hMSCs were isolated by 1.073g/mL Percoll and propagated in the right cell culturing medium as previously described. The phenotypes of hMSCs were characterized with the use of flow cytometry. The hMSCs were cultured in cell culture medium (as control) and medium mixed with 5-aza for cellular differentiation. We examined by immunohistochemistry at 21 days the inducement of desmin, cardiac-specific cardiac troponin I (cTnI), GATA 4 and connexin-43 respectively. Results The hMSCs are fibroblast-like morphology and express CD44+ CD29+ CD90+ / CD34- CD45- CD31- CD11a. After 5-aza treatment, 20-30% hMSCs connected with adjoining cells and coalesced into myotube structures after 14days. Twenty-one days after 5-aza treatment, immunofluorescence showed that some cells expressed desmin,GATA4, cTnI and connexin-43 in 5,10 μmol/L 5-aza groups, but no cardiac specific protein was found in neither 3μmol/L 5-aza group nor in the control group. The ratio of cTnI positively stained cells in 10 μmol/L group was higher than that in 5 μmol/L group (65.3 ± 4.7% vs 48.2 ± 5.4%, P ＜ 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed that myofilaments were formed. The induced cells expressed cardiac-myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Conclusions Theses findings suggest that hMSCs from adult bone marrow can be differentiated into cardiac-like muscle cells with 5-aza inducement in vitro and the differentiation is in line with the 5-aza concentration. (J Geriatr Cardiol 2004;1(2) :101-107. )
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42076141).
文摘In this study,we investigated the effects of different concentrations of 5-azacytidine(AZA),a DNA methyltransferase in-hibitor,on the growth,antioxidant activities and germination of pellicle cysts of Scrippsiella acuminata.The purpose of this study is to understand the toxic effects of AZA on marine microalgae,and to demonstrate the effect of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors on the germination of pellicle cysts.Results showed that AZA inhibited the growth of S.acuminata significantly,and displaced a clear dose-dependent inhibition trend with the 96h EC50 of 146.77μmolL^(-1)(35.84mgL^(-1)).Pellicle cysts of S.acuminata were less sensitive to AZA than the vegetative cells,and the EC50 value of AZA to the germination of pellicle cysts of S.acuminata was 8.08mmolL^(-1)(1.97g L^(-1)).After exposed to AZA,the antioxidant activities in S.acuminata responded rapidly and significantly.Among them,soluble pro-tein and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were more sensitive to AZA,and significant promotions occurred after exposed to 10μmolL^(-1)AZA for 24h.Meanwhile,malondialdehyde(MDA)contents in algal cells did not change significantly after exposed to low concen-trations of AZA,but increased firstly and then decreased under high concentration of AZA.The glutathione(GSH)levels in S.acu-minata increased significantly under high concentrations of AZA,and remained unchanged at low concentrations of AZA.The results suggested that the enhanced protein level and SOD activity of S.acuminata eliminated reactive oxygen species(ROS)to a certain ex-tent,and thus protected algal cells against damages of ROS caused by AZA.
基金The work was supported by The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572017EA05)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31870588).
文摘DNA methylation is widespread in plants and associated with plant development and defense mechanisms.However,the relationship between DNA methylation and plant secondary metabolism has rarely been reported.Here,when birch suspension cells were treated with 5-azacytidine(5-azaC),which blocks DNA methylation,triterpenoid accumulation was significantly promoted and antioxidant and defense enzymatic activity changed.For studying triterpenoid accumulation,0.1 mM azaC was optimal.A qRT-PCR assay revealed increased expression of genes encoding key triterpenoid biosynthetic enzymes.Evaluation of methylation polymorphisms at CCGG sites showed that the methylation level was lower in cells treated with 5-azaC.These results demonstrated that 5-azaC treatment led to an increase in the production of triterpenoids in cell cultures through a mechanism that involved in DNA methylation,which resulted in the induction of genes encoding the key enzymes.The study provides evidence of a relationship between DNA methylation and regulation of secondary metabolism.
文摘Objective 5-azacytidine could induce the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes （CMs）. The aim of this study was to screen the optimal condition for 5-azacytidine inducing differentiation of human mesenchumal stem cells （hMSCs） into CMs, and the effect of 5-azacytidine on adherence, cell vigor and chromosome karyotype of hMSCs. Methods hMSCs were isolated from human bone marrow and cultured in vitro. The phenotypes ofhMSCs were identified by flow cytometric analyses. MTT test was used to investigate the effect of different concentrations of 5-azacytidine on proliferation ofhMSCs. Four weeks after 5-azacytidine induction, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, single-cell action potentials, detection of cardio-enzyme AST and LDH, cell adherence, cell viability and chromosome karyotype test were performed. Results The typical morphological features of hMSCs were fibroblast-like in shape, hMSCs expressed CD44 and CD105,and did not express CD34, CD45 and CD31. The optimal concentration of 5-azacytidine was 10μ mol/L. The shape of hMSCs treated with 5-Azacytidine changed from fusiform to polygon or astrocyte gradually, and passaged cells were evenly arranged as polarity structure. Indueed-hMSCs connected with neighbouring cells, fbrming myotube-like structures 4 weeks later. It was confirmed that induced hMSCs shaped myotubule-like structure and had some of micro-histologic structures of CMs by TEM. RT-PCR showed that induced hMSCs expressed cardiac specific product BNNP and early cardio-myogenesis specific transcription factor NKX2.5mRNA. Besides, induced-MSCs led to the weak action potential and secreted cardio-enzyme AST and LDH. There was no significant difference in cell adherence and viability before and after induction. Both hMSCs and induced-hNSCs kept stable normal diploid nucleus. Conclusion The optimal condition for inducing effect of 5-azacytidine is 10 la mol/L and 24-hour incubation; and under this condition, the adherence, vigor and chromosome karyotype ofhMSCs would not be affected （J Geriatr Cardio12009; 6：182-188）.
文摘目的探讨5-Aza-dC和TSA对肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)细胞中3-OST-2甲基化水平、基因表达以及对核转录因子UHRF1(ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1,也称为ICBP90/NP95)表达的影响。方法采用甲基化特异性PCR(methylation specific PCR,MSP)法检测药物作用前后HCC细胞株中3-OST-2甲基化的状态改变;采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR法检测3-OST-2和UHRF1 mRNA的表达变化;采用细胞爬片免疫组化法检测UHRF1蛋白表达。结果 3-OST-2在HCC细胞株中呈完全甲基化状态,5-Aza-dC或TSA均能部分逆转3-OST-2甲基化,其mRNA表达分别增加2.7倍和4.9倍,两种药物联合处理后,3-OST-2甲基化被完全逆转,其mRNA表达增加9.1倍。5-Aza-dC或TSA均能降低UHRF1 mRNA和蛋白的表达,TSA比5-Aza-dC疗效更好(P<0.01),两种药物联用具有协同作用(P<0.01)。结论启动子甲基化和组蛋白修饰共同导致3-OST-2基因表达降低。5-Aza-dC和TSA单独作用均能部分逆转3-OST-2甲基化,增加其mRNA表达,抑制核蛋白UHRF1表达可能是其中机制之一。
文摘Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are pluripotent stem cells that show a vital potential in the clinical application for cell transplantation. In the present paper, proteomic techniques were used to approach the protein profiles associated with porcine bone marrow MSCs and investigate the regulation of MSC proteins on the effect of 5-azacytidine （5-aza）. Over 1,700 protein species were separated from MSCs according to gel analysis. Compared with the expression profiling of control MSCs, there were 11 protein spots up-regulated and 26 downregulated in the protein pattern of 5-aza-treated cells. A total of 21 proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis, among which some interesting proteins, such as alpha B-crystallin, annexin A2, and stathmin 1, had been reported to involve in cell proliferation and differentiation through different signaling pathways. Our data should be useful for the future study of MSC differentiation and apoptosis.
文摘Background Cellular cardiomyoplasty by transplantation of various cell types has been investigated as potential treatments for the improvement of cardiac function after myocardial injury. A major barrier for the clinical application of cell transplantation is obtaining sufficiently large quantities of suitable cells. AIIogeneic cellular cardiomyoplasty may provide an alternative source of abundant, transplantable, myogenic cells by in vitro manipulation of cardiac fibroblasts using chemicals including 5-azacytidine. This study evaluated cardiomyogenic differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts, their survival in myocardial scar tissue, and the effect of the implanted cells on heart function. Methods Primary cardiac fibroblasts from neonatal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine （10 pmol/L） or control. Treatment of 5-azacytidine caused myogenic differentiation of cultured cardiac fibroblasts, as defined by elongation and fusion into multinucleated myotubes with sarcomeric structures as identified by electron microscopy, and positive immunostaining for cardiac specific proteins, troponin I and 13-myosin heavy chain （13-MHC） and the gap junction protein connexin 43. The myogenic cells （1.0x106） were transplanted into the infarcted myocardium 2 weeks after coronary artery occlusion. Results By 1 month after transplantation, the converted fibroblasts gave rise to a cluster of cardiac-like muscle cells that in the hearts occupied a large part of the scar with positive immunostaining for the myogenic proteins troponin I and 13-MHC. Engrafted cells also expressed the gap junction protein connexin 43 in a disorganized manner. There was no positive staining in the control hearts treated with injections of culture medium. Heart function was evaluated at 6 weeks after myocardial injury with echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements. Improvement in cardiac function was seen in the hearts transplanted with the 5-azacytidine-treated cardiac fibroblasts which was absent in the hearts treated with control. Conclusion The 5-azacytidine has a unique capacity to induce myogenesis in cardiac fibroblasts in vitro and transplantation of cardiac-like muscle cells into ventricular scar tissue improves myocardial function.
