Effects of electrical stimulation on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation ES) on the induction of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro. The third or fourth-generation of the rBMSCs was randomly divided into three groups, i. e. ES group, 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) group, and control group. Those in the ES group with complete medium were exposed to 1,2,4 and 6V, 2Hz, 5ms ES for 2h everyday,lasting for 10d. Those in the 5-Aza group were induced by 10 micromol/L 5-Aza for 24h, then the medium was changed to complete medium without 5-Aza. Those in the control group were only cultured with complete medium. The growth status and morphological features of rBMSCs were observed by inverted phase microscope. The mRNA expressions of GATA4, a-actin, ACTN2 and TNNT2 were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantification PCR, and the protein expression of TNNT2 was detected with immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the mRNA expression level of the GATA4, a-actin, ACTN2 and TNNT2 and the protein expression level of the TNNT2 were significantly higher in the ES group and 5-Aza group, compared to those in the control group(P<0. 05). It suggested that ES could induce rBMSCs differentiation into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro.