| 1. |
- Vukusic, Kristina, 1979, et al.
(author)
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The Atrioventricular Junction: A Potential Niche Region for Progenitor Cells in the Adult Human Heart
- 2019
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In: Stem Cells and Development. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1547-3287 .- 1557-8534. ; 28:16, s. 1078-1088
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A stem cell niche is a microenvironment where stem cells reside in a quiescent state, until activated. In a previous rat model, we combined 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine labeling with activation of endogenous stem cells by physical exercise and revealed a distinct region, in the atrioventricular junction (AVj), with features of a stem cell niche. In this study, we aim to investigate whether a similar niche exists in the human heart. Paired biopsies from AVj and left ventricle (LV) were collected both from explanted hearts of organ donors, not used for transplantation (N = 7) and from severely failing hearts from patients undergoing heart transplantation (N = 7). Using antibodies, we investigated the expression of stem cell, hypoxia, proliferation and migration biomarkers. In the collagen-dense region of the AVj in donor hearts, progenitor markers, MDR1, SSEA4, ISL1, WT1, and hypoxia marker, HIF1-alpha, were clearly detected. The expression gradually decreased with distance from the valve. At the myocardium border in the AVj costaining of the proliferation marker Ki67 with cardiomyocyte nuclei marker PCM1 and cardiac Troponin-T (cTnT) indicated proliferation of small cardiomyocytes. In the same site we also detected ISL1(+)/WT1(+)/cTnT cells. In addition, heterogeneity in cardiomyocyte sizes was noted. Altogether, these findings indicate different developmental stages of cardiomyocytes below the region dense in stem cell marker expression. In patients suffering from heart failure the AVj region showed signs of impairment generally displaying much weaker or no expression of progenitor markers. We describe an anatomic structure in the human hearts, with features of a progenitor niche that coincided with the same region previously identified in rats with densely packed cells expressing progenitor and hypoxia markers. The data provided in this study indicate that the adult heart contains progenitor cells and that AVj might be a specific niche region from which the progenitors migrate at the time of regeneration.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Assaying cardiac biomarkers for toxicity testing using biosensing and cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells
- 2010
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In: JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.. - 0168-1656 .- 1873-4863. ; 150:1, s. 175-181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) derived cardiomyocytes are in the present study being used for testing drug-induced cardiotoxicity in a biosensor set-up. The design of an in vitro testing alternative provides a novel opportunity to surpass previous methods based on rodent cells or cell lines due to its significantly higher toxicological relevance. In this report we demonstrate how hESC-derived cardiomyocytes release detectable levels of two clinically decisive cardiac biomarkers, cardiac troponin T and fatty acid binding protein 3, when the cardiac cells are exposed to the well-known cardioactive drug compound. doxorubicin. The release is monitored by the immuno-biosensor technique surface plasmon resonance, particularly appropriate due to its capacity for parallel and high-throughput analysis in complex media.
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| 3. |
- Asp, Julia, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Cardiomyocyte clusters derived from human embryonic stem cells share similarities with human heart tissue.
- 2010
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In: Journal of molecular cell biology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1759-4685 .- 1674-2788. ; 2:5, s. 276-83
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cardiotoxicity testing is a key activity in the pharmaceutical industry in order to detect detrimental effects of new drugs. A reliable human in vitro model would both be beneficial in selection of lead compounds and be important for reducing animal experimentation. However, the human heart is a complex organ composed of many distinct types of cardiomyocytes, but cardiomyocyte clusters (CMCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells could be an option for a cellular model. Data on functional properties of CMCs demonstrate similarities to their in vivo analogues in human. However, development of an in vitro model requires a more thorough comparison of CMCs to human heart tissue. Therefore, we directly compared individually isolated CMCs to human fetal, neonatal, adult atrial and ventricular heart tissues. Real-time qPCR analysis of mRNA levels and protein staining of ion channels and cardiac markers showed in general a similar expression pattern in CMCs and human heart. Moreover, a significant decrease in beat frequency was noted after addition of Zatebradine, a blocker to I(f) involved in regulation of spontaneous contraction in CMCs. The results underscore the similarities of CMCs to human cardiac tissue, and further support establishment of novel cardiotoxicity assays based on the CMCs in drug discovery.
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| 4. |
- Jonsson, Marianne, 1962, et al.
(author)
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Novel 3D culture system with similarities to the human heart for studies of the cardiac stem cell niche.
- 2010
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In: Regenerative medicine. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1746-076X .- 1746-0751. ; 5:5, s. 725-36
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop a 3D culture system with similarities to the human heart, which was suitable for studies of adult cardiac stem or progenitor cells. MATERIALS & METHODS: Dissociated cells from human cardiac biopsies were placed in high-density pellet cultures and cultured for up to 6 weeks. Gene and protein expressions, analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, and morphology were studied in early and late pellets. RESULTS: Cells cultured in the 3D model showed similarities to human cardiac tissue. Moreover, markers for cardiac stem and progenitor cells were also detected after 6 weeks of culture, in addition to markers for signaling pathways active in stem cell niche regulation. CONCLUSIONS: The described 3D culture model could be a valuable tool when studying the influence of different compounds on proliferation and differentiation processes in cardiac stem or progenitor cells in cardiac regenerative research.
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| 5. |
- Sandstedt, Joakim, et al.
(author)
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C-kit+ CD45- cells found in the adult human heart represent a population of endothelial progenitor cells.
- 2010
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In: Basic research in cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1435-1803 .- 0300-8428. ; 105:4, s. 545-56
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although numerous reports support the existence of stem cells in the adult heart, few studies have been conducted using human cardiac tissue. Therefore, cells from human cardiac atrial biopsies were analyzed regarding progenitor properties. Expression of stem cell markers was analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. This identified a small population of C-kit+ cells, which could be further subdivided based on expression of CD45. The C-kit+ CD45+ population was determined to be of mast cell identity, while the C-kit+ CD45- population expressed mRNA of the endothelial lineage. Since the number of cells obtainable from biopsies was limited, a comparison between directly isolated and monolayer and explant cultured cells, respectively, was carried out. While both cultures retained a small population of mast cells, only monolayer culture produced a stable and relatively high percentage of C-kit+ CD45- cells. This population was found to co-express endothelial progenitor cell markers such as CD31, CD34, CXCR4, and FLK-1. The mRNA expression profile was similar to the one from directly isolated cells. When sorted cells were cultured in endothelial differentiation medium, the C-kit+ CD45- population retained its expression of endothelial markers to a large extent, but downregulated progenitor markers, indicating further differentiation into endothelial cells. We have confirmed that the human cardiac atrium contains a small C-kit+ CD45- population expressing markers commonly found on endothelial progenitor cells. The existence of an endothelial progenitor population within the heart might have future implications for developing methods of inducing neovascularization after myocardial infarction.
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| 6. |
- Sandstedt, Joakim, et al.
(author)
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Human C-kit+CD45- cardiac stem cells are heterogeneous and display both cardiac and endothelial commitment by single-cell qPCR analysis.
- 2014
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In: Biochemical and biophysical research communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 443:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- C-kit expressing cardiac stem cells have been described as multipotent. We have previously identified human cardiac C-kit+CD45- cells, but only found evidence of endothelial commitment. A small cardiac committed subpopulation within the C-kit+CD45- population might however be present. To investigate this at single-cell level, right and left atrial biopsies were dissociated and analyzed by FACS. Only right atrial biopsies contained a clearly distinguishable C-kit+CD45- population, which was single-cell sorted for qPCR. A minor portion of the sorted cells (1.1%) expressed early cardiac gene NKX2.5 while most of the cells (81%) expressed late endothelial gene VWF. VWF- cells were analyzed for a wider panel of genes. One group of these cells expressed endothelial genes (FLK-1, CD31) while another group expressed late cardiac genes (TNNT2, ACTC1). In conclusion, human C-kit+CD45- cells were predominantly localized to the right atrium. While most of these cells expressed endothelial genes, a minor portion expressed cardiac genes.
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| 7. |
- Sandstedt, Joakim, et al.
(author)
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Left atrium of the human adult heart contains a population of side population cells.
- 2012
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In: Basic research in cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1435-1803 .- 0300-8428. ; 107:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cardiac "side population" (SP) cells have previously been found to differentiate into both endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes in mice and rats, but there are no data on SP cells in the human adult heart. Therefore, human cardiac atrial biopsies were dissociated, stained for SP cells and analyzed with FACS. Identified cell populations were analyzed for gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR and subjected to in vitro differentiation. Only biopsies from the left atrium contained a clearly distinguishable population of SP cells (0.22 ± 0.08%). The SP population was reduced by co-incubation with MDR1 inhibitor Verapamil, while the ABCG2 inhibitor FTC failed to decrease the number of SP cells. When the gene expression was analyzed, SP cells were found to express significantly more MDR1 than non-SP cells. For ABCG2, there was no detectable difference. SP cells also expressed more of the stem cell-associated markers C-KIT and OCT-4 than non-SP cells. On the other hand, no significant difference in the expression of endothelial and cardiac genes could be detected. SP cells were further subdivided based on CD45 expression. The CD45-SP population showed evidence of endothelial commitment at gene expression level. In conclusion, the results show that a SP population of cells is present also in the human adult heart.
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| 8. |
- Sandstedt, Joakim, et al.
(author)
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SSEA-4+ CD34- Cells in the Adult Human Heart Show the Molecular Characteristics of a Novel Cardiomyocyte Progenitor Population.
- 2014
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In: Cells, tissues, organs. - : S. Karger AG. - 1422-6421 .- 1422-6405. ; 199:2-3, s. 103-116
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA) expression is used to describe the differentiation state of an embryonic stem cell (ESC). In human ESCs, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4 are highly expressed in undifferentiated cells and downregulated upon differentiation. SSEA-4 has also been described as a marker for adult stem cells in various tissues, including human neonatal cardiac tissue. However, there is currently little data on the expression of SSEAs in human adult cardiac tissue. We obtained right and left atrial biopsies from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. These were dissociated, stained for SSEAs and other cardiac stem cell markers and analyzed by flow cytometry. Directly isolated cells expressed variable levels of SSEA-1, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4. The SSEA-1+ population was established as contaminating hematopoietic cells. The SSEA-4+ population, on the other hand, could be subdivided based on the endothelial progenitor marker CD34. The SSEA-4+ CD34- population in the right atrium had a high gene expression of both early (TBX5, NKX2.5) and late (TNNT2) cardiomyocyte markers. The SSEA-4+ CD34+ population, on the other hand, overlapped with previously described C-kit+ CD45- cardiac stem cells. Primary monolayer-cultured cells retained expression of SSEAs while the cardiomyogenic specification in the SSEA-4+ CD34- population was lost. In tissue sections, SSEA-4+ cells could be identified both within and outside the myocardium. Within the myocardium, some SSEA-4+ cells coexpressed cardiomyogenic markers. In conclusion, the results show that the adult human heart expresses SSEAs and that there is a subpopulation of SSEA-4+ CD34- cells that show features of a cardiomyocyte progenitor population. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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| 9. |
- Sandstedt, Mikael, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Intracellular flow cytometry may be combined with good quality and high sensitivity RT-qPCR analysis.
- 2015
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In: Cytometry. Part A : the journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology. - : Wiley. - 1552-4930. ; 87:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Flow cytometry (FCM) has become a well-established method for analysis of both intracellular and cell-surface proteins, while quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) is used to determine gene expression with high sensitivity and specificity. Combining these two methods would be of great value. The effects of intracellular staining on RNA integrity and RT-qPCR sensitivity and quality have not, however, been fully examined. We, therefore, intended to assess these effects further. Cells from the human lung cancer cell line A549 were fixed, permeabilized and sorted by FCM. Sorted cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR. RNA integrity was determined by RNA quality indicator analysis. A549 cells were then mixed with cells of the mouse cardiomyocyte cell line HL-1. A549 cells were identified by the cell surface marker ABCG2, while HL-1 cells were identified by intracellular cTnT. Cells were sorted and analyzed by RT-qPCR. Finally, cell cultures from human atrial biopsies were used to evaluate the effects of fixation and permeabilization on RT-qPCR analysis of nonimmortalized cells stored prior to analysis by FCM. A large amount of RNA could be extracted even when cells had been fixed and permeabilized. Permeabilization resulted in increased RNA degradation and a moderate decrease in RT-qPCR sensitivity. Gene expression levels were also affected to a moderate extent. Sorted populations from the mixed A549 and HL-1 cell samples showed gene expression patterns that corresponded to FCM data. When samples were stored before FCM sorting, the RT-qPCR analysis could still be performed with high sensitivity and quality. In summary, our results show that intracellular FCM may be performed with only minor impairment of the RT-qPCR sensitivity and quality when analyzing sorted cells; however, these effects should be considered when comparing RT-qPCR data of not fixed samples with those of fixed and permeabilized samples. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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| 10. |
- Sandstedt, Mikael, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Regional transcriptomic profiling reveals immune system enrichment in nonfailing atria as well as all chambers of the failing human heart
- 2023
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In: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6135 .- 1522-1539. ; 325:6, s. H1430-H1445
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The different chambers of the human heart demonstrate regional physiological traits and may be differentially affected during pathologic remodeling, resulting in heart failure. Few previous studies have, however, characterized the different chambers at a transcriptomic level. We therefore conducted whole-tissue RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis of biopsies collected from the four chambers of adult failing (n = 8) and nonfailing (n = 11) human hearts. Atria and ventricles demonstrated distinct transcriptional patterns. Compared to nonfailing ventricles, the transcriptional pattern of nonfailing atria was enriched for a large number of gene sets associated with cardiogenesis, the immune system and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), MAPK/JNK and Wnt signaling. Differences between failing and nonfailing hearts were also determined. The transcriptional pattern of failing atria was distinct compared to that of nonfailing atria and enriched for gene sets associated with the innate and adaptive immune system, TGF beta/SMAD signaling, and changes in endothelial, smooth muscle cell and cardiomyocyte physiology. Failing ventricles were also enriched for gene sets associated with the immune system. Based on the transcriptomic patterns, upstream regulators associated with heart failure were identified. These included many immune response factors predicted to be similarly activated for all chambers of failing hearts. In summary, the heart chambers demonstrate distinct transcriptional patterns that differ between failing and nonfailing hearts. Immune system signaling may be a hallmark of all four heart chambers in failing hearts, and could constitute a novel therapeutic target.
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