CD73+ adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells possess higher potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro

J Mol Histol. 2013 Aug;44(4):411-22. doi: 10.1007/s10735-013-9492-9. Epub 2013 Mar 3.

Abstract

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are an attractive adult-derived stem cell population for cardiovascular repair. ADMSCs are heterogeneous cell populations with pluripotent capacity to differentiate into different types of cells. In the present study, we investigated the biological characteristics and differentiation potential of CD73-positive (CD73(+)) and CD73-negative (CD73(-)) ADMSCs. Our results show that in terms of morphological shape, CD73(+)-ADMSCs are mainly small-sized cells, whereas CD73(-)-ADMSCs are big-sized cells; both subpopulations can equally differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts in vitro. However, the CD73(+)-ADMSCs possess a higher potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes than the CD73(-)-ADMSCs. The expression of the cardiac-specific genes, cTnT, Gata4, and Nkx2.5, is much higher in the CD73(+)-ADMSCs than in the CD73(-)-ADMSCs. Furthermore, Nanog expression at both the mRNA and protein levels is significantly higher in CD73(+)-ADMSCs than in CD73(-)-ADMSCs, suggesting that CD73(+)-ADMSCs are an undifferentiated subpopulation that can differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro more efficiently. Therefore, this study facilitates a better understanding of the differentiation of the ADMSCs subgroups and attempts to identify if CD73 is a useful marker for sorting and purifying the subpopulation of ADMSCs with a higher capacity for differentiation into cardiomyocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5'-Nucleotidase / metabolism*
  • Adipogenesis / drug effects
  • Adipogenesis / genetics
  • Adipose Tissue / cytology*
  • Animals
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Shape / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Nanog protein, mouse
  • 5'-Nucleotidase
  • Azacitidine