Ascorbic acid enhances differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiac myocytes.

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Takahashi, Tomosaburo Lord, Bernadette Schulze, Paul Christian Sarang, Satinder S. Lee, Richard T.
Copyright Year	2003
Abstract	BACKGROUND Embryonic stem (ES) cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into cellular derivatives of all 3 germ layers. In appropriate culture conditions, ES cells can differentiate into specialized cells, including cardiac myocytes, but the efficiency is typically low and the process is incompletely understood. METHODS AND RESULTS We evaluated a chemical library for its potential to induce cardiac differentiation of ES cells in the absence of embryoid body formation. Using ES cells stably transfected with cardiac-specific alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC) promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), 880 compounds approved for human use were screened for their ability to induce cardiac differentiation. Treatment with ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, markedly increased the number of EGFP-positive cells, which displayed spontaneous and rhythmic contractile activity and stained positively for sarcomeric myosin and alpha-actinin. Furthermore, ascorbic acid induced the expression of cardiac genes, including GATA4, alpha-MHC, and beta-MHC in untransfected ES cells in a developmentally controlled manner. This effect of ascorbic acid on cardiac differentiation was not mimicked by the other antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine, Tiron, or vitamin E. CONCLUSIONS Ascorbic acid induces cardiac differentiation in ES cells. This study demonstrates the potential for chemically modifying the cardiac differentiation program of ES cells.
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/circulationaha/107/14/1912.full.pdf?download=true
PubMed reference number	12668514v1
Volume Number	107
Issue Number	14
Journal	Circulation
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt Acetylcysteine Actinin Antioxidants Ascorbic Acid Cardiac Myosins Cell Differentiation process Embryoid Bodies Germ Layers Green Fluorescent Proteins Muscle Cells Myocytes, Cardiac Myosin Heavy Chains SLC3A2 gene Small Molecule Libraries Stem cells alpha-Actinin anatomical layer cardiocyte differentiation enhanced green fluorescent protein
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article