Differentiation of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro

Abstract

In order to investigate the effective method to induce mice-induced pluripotent stem (miPS) cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro and to investigate the effect of vitamin C on cardiomyocyte differentiation from miPS cells to find a highly efficient and clinically safe method. MiPS cells were isolated and expanded to form embryoid bodies (EBs) using the hanging drop way. EBs were induced using differentiation medium containing vitamin C (10−4 mmol/ml). The control group did not receive any form of inducer. The time and frequency at which beating cardiomyocytes appeared and the percentage of beating colonies were determined to investigate the function of vitamin C on cardiac myocytes differentiation from miPS cells. Beating cell areas were found in (62.5 ± 1.7%) of EBs when using differentiation medium containing vitamin C, which was at a significantly greater frequency than in the control group (7.6 ± 2.6%). Beating cardiomyocytes within the two groups were positive for troponin (cTnT) staining. Vitamin C markedly increased the productivity of miPS cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes, as supported by expression of the unique cardiac protein cTnT. The vitamin C is suitable candidate for the induction of miPS cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes in vitro.