Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocytes by defined factors

Masaki Ieda, Ji Dong Fu, Paul Delgado-Olguin, Vasanth Vedantham, Yohei Hayashi, Benoit G. Bruneau, Deepak Srivastava

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1961 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) raises the possibility that a somatic cell could be reprogrammed to an alternative differentiated fate without first becoming a stem/progenitor cell. A large pool of fibroblasts exists in the postnatal heart, yet no single " master regulator" of direct cardiac reprogramming has been identified. Here, we report that a combination of three developmental transcription factors (i.e., Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5) rapidly and efficiently reprogrammed postnatal cardiac or dermal fibroblasts directly into differentiated cardiomyocyte-like cells. Induced cardiomyocytes expressed cardiac-specific markers, had a global gene expression profile similar to cardiomyocytes, and contracted spontaneously. Fibroblasts transplanted into mouse hearts one day after transduction of the three factors also differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells. We believe these findings demonstrate that functional cardiomyocytes can be directly reprogrammed from differentiated somatic cells by defined factors. Reprogramming of endogenous or explanted fibroblasts might provide a source of cardiomyocytes for regenerative approaches. PaperClip:

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)375-386
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume142
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010 Aug
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DEVBIO
  • HUMDISEASE
  • STEMCELL

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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