Expression of CD-34, OCT-4 and Brachyury genes of cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells

Aim and Cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) could be useful in restoring heart function after myocardial infarction or in heart failure. The hESCs can differentiate in vitro into spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes and produce a model to investigate the early developmental stages of this system. After removing of cells from their feeder layer, hESCs create embryoid bodies (EB). Plating of EB result in developing areas of beating cells.
After stem cell culture, cardiomyocyte’s mRNA extracted in different time after differentiation. The expression pattern CD-34, OCT-4 and Brachyury were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
There was an enhanced expression of as CD-34 from day 21 in EB in suspension. The OCT-4 gene expression was in 5-day-old EB and Brachyury expression was significantly increased by day 21.
hESCs might be useful as an effective model system for understanding the developmental processes and functioning of the human heart.