Robert J Schwartz
University of Houston, USA
Title: Conversion of adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells into mature cardiac myocytes
Biography
Biography: Robert J Schwartz
Abstract
ETS2 and MESP1 first used to convert human foreskin fibroblasts also, converted human adipogenic mesenchymal stem cell (hADMSCs) into cardiac progenitors (CPCs). These factors up regulated cardiac mesoderm cell surface markers, such as KDR, PDGFRa, and CXCR4 and a cadre of cardiac regulatory factors, but without the appearance of many calcium handling proteins. We then explored the role of 3D cardio-spheroids formed in a rotating Synthecon bioreactor that mimics microgravity on earth. Without the addition of any other reagent or drug we observed the robust induction of adult myosin heavy chains, contractile sarcomeres, ion channels, calcium handling channels and pumps in 3D cardio-spheres. We began to decode the gene expression network of ion channels, SR and t-tubules genes using cutting edge genetic informatics on the ground experiment and found that hypoxic signaling likely coordinates the appearance of many genes involved with calcium handling and myocyte maturation. Our experimental paradigm contributes to a novel regenerative strategy that enhanced myocyte maturation from converted human mesenchymal stem cells.