Embryonic stem cell differentiation towards cardiomyocytes and its application in cardiac tissue engineering / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) show potential prospect of wide application in establishing cardiac pharmacological model system, forming three-dimensional cardiac tissues and constructing biological pacemaker. The process of ESCs differentiating into cardiomyocytes is to simulate heart growth and development in vitro. The cases of transplanting ESCs into animal models confirm that the cardiac function is improved. Moreover, the research and exploitation of tissue engineered cardiac muscle tissue with vessel system brings hope for clinical cardiac muscle restoration. ESC-derived pacemaker can functionally integrate with quiescent ventricular muscle cells to induce rhythmic electrical and contractile activities in vitro. However, the immunological rejection limits its clinical application. Although ESCs have strong differentiation potential, the problems such as the differentiation process towards cardiomyocytes, ESC induction and signal regulatory pathway, and whether induced cardiomyocytes can substitute in vivo cardiomyocytes still need exploration.