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Labeling of cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles permits cell tracking by 1H MRI while 31P MRS allows non-invasive evaluation of cellular bioenergetics. We evaluated the compatibility of these two techniques by obtaining 31P NMR spectra of iron-labeled and unlabeled immobilized C2C12 myoblast cells in vitro. Broadened but usable 31P spectra were obtained and peak area ratios of resonances corresponding to intracellular metabolites showed no significant differences between labeled and unlabeled cell populations. We conclude that 31P NMR spectra can be obtained from cells labeled with sufficient iron to permit visualization by 1H imaging protocols and that these spectra have sufficient quality to be used to assess metabolic status. This result introduces the possibility of using localized 31P MRS to evaluate the viability of iron-labeled therapeutic cells as well as surrounding host tissue in vivo. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells self-renew and are pluripotent. Differentiation of these cells can yield over 200 somatic cell types, making pluripotent cells an obvious source for regenerative medicine. Before the potential of these cells can be maximally harnessed for clinical applications, it will be necessary to understand the processes that maintain pluripotentiality and signal differentiation. Currently, three unique molecular properties distinguish pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells. These include a unique transcriptional hierarchy that sustains the pluripotent state during the process of self-renewal; a poised epigenetic state that maintains chromatin in a form ready for rapid cell fate decisions; and a cell cycle characterized by an extremely short gap 1 (G1) phase and the near absence of normal somatic cell checkpoint controls. Recently, B-MYB (MYBL2) was implicated in the gene regulation of two pluripotency factors and normal cell cycle progression. In this article, the three pluripotency properties and the potential role of B-Myb to regulate these processes will be discussed. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 10–17, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The niche in which stem cells reside and differentiate is a complex physicochemical microenvironment that regulates cell function. The role played by three-dimensional physical contours was studied on cell progeny derived from mouse embryonic stem cells using microtopographies created on PDMS (poly-dimethyl-siloxane) membranes. While markers of differentiation were not affected, the proliferation of heterogeneous mouse embryonic stem cell-derived progeny was attenuated by 15 μm-, but not 5 μm-high microprojections. This reduction was reversed by Rho kinase and myosin light chain kinase inhibition, which diminishes the tension generating ability of stress fibers. Purified cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells also showed significant blunting of proliferation and increased beating rates compared with cells grown on flat substrates. Thus, proliferation of stem cell-derived progeny appears to be regulated by microtopography through tension-generation of contractility in the third-dimension. These results emphasize the importance of topographic cues in the modulation of stem cell progeny behavior. Developmental Dynamics 238:1964-1973, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac function deteriorates with aging or disease. Short term, any changes in heart function may be beneficial, but long term the alterations are often detrimental. At a molecular level, functional adaptations involve quantitative and qualitative changes in gene expression. Analysis of all the RNA transcripts present in a cell''s population (transcriptome) offers unprecedented opportunities to map these transitions. Microarrays (chips), capable of evaluating thousands of transcripts in one assay, are ideal for transcriptome analyses. Gene expression profiling provides information about the dynamics of total genome expression in response to environmental changes and may point to candidate genes responsible for the cascade of events that result in disease or are a consequence of aging. The aim of this review is to describe how comparisons of cellular transcriptomes by cDNA array based techniques provide information about the dynamics of total gene expression, and how the results can be applied to the study of cardiovascular disease and aging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure involve functional changes that are beneficial short-term, but may be fatal long-term. Current therapeutic approaches are tailored to limit progression of a disease and to maintain quality of life. At a molecular level, these disease processes involve quantitative and qualitative changes in gene expression. Although some changes in mRNA abundance may not have direct protein correlates, analysis of all the mRNAs present in a cell population (the cells transcriptome) has become a focal point of genomic research. The aim is to provide information about the dynamics of total genome expression in response to environmental changes and point to candidate genes responsible for the cascade of events that result in a disease state. One way of performing these analyses utilizes the technique of Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE). This method evaluates thousands of expressed transcripts both quantitatively and qualitatively in a single assay. In the first of two reviews on transcriptome analysis, we describe the current state of genomic research for determination of the transcriptome by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression, present the first limited SAGE analysis of rodent heart gene expression, and discuss how results generated with this approach can be applied to the study and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the crucial role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the developmental regulation of Ca2+ transients and contraction in cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. It was discussed that functional SR and RyR2 are important to the Β-adrenergic receptor (AR)-stimulated changes in the Ca2+ transients with in vitro differentiation of cardiomyocytes.

Here, a multichannel organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) array is reported for electrophysiological monitoring and mapping of action potential propagation of a wide range of cardiac cells, including cell lines, primary cell lines, and human‐sourced stem cell derivatives in 2D and 3D structures. The results suggest that the ability to exploit this OECT‐based platform to map 2D action potential propagation provides a viable strategy to better characterize cardiac cells in response to various chronotropic drugs. The effects of chronotropic agents Isoproterenol and Verapamil on cardiac tissues validate the utility of OECT for drug screening capability, and a preliminary demonstration of a 64‐channel OECT array to monitor the cardiac action potentials for better spatial resolution is presented. The study demonstrates that OECT will be a viable and versatile platform for applications in medical and pharmacological industries. A versatile multichannel organic electrochemical transistor array platform for mapping the characteristics and propagation of the action potentials is further developed to accommodate to a wider range of cardiac tissues and for drug screening. A 64‐channel design is demonstrated for this biocompatible, low‐cost, and high transconductance organic electronic device to obtain a better spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Longevity variability is a common feature of aging in mammals, but the mechanisms responsible for this remain largely unknown. Using microarray datasets coupled with prediction analysis of microarrays (PAM), we identified a set of 252 cardiac transcripts predictive of relative lifespan in Wistar and Fisher 344 rats. Prediction analysis of microarrays 'tests' of rat heart transcriptomes from a third longer lived Fisher × Norway Brown rat strain validated the predictive value of this gene subset. The expression patterns of these genes were highly conserved, and corresponding promoter regions were employed to identify common cis-elements and trans-activating factors implicated in their control. Specifically, four transcription factors (Max, Ets2, Erg, and Msx2) present in heart displayed longevity-dependent, strain-independent changes in abundance, but only ETS2 had an expression profile that directly correlated with the relative lifespan gene set. In heart, ETS2 was prevalent in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and showed a high degree of myocyte-to-myocyte variability predominantly in adult rat hearts prior to the exponential increase in the rate of mortality. Exclusively in this group, elevated ETS2 significantly overlapped with TUNEL staining in heart myocytes. In response to sympathetic stimuli, ETS2 is also up-regulated, and functionally, adenovirus-mediated over-expression of ETS2 promotes apoptosis-inducing factor-mediated, caspase-independent programmed necrosis exclusively in CMs that can be fully inhibited by the PARP-1 inhibitor DPQ. We conclude that variations in ETS2 abundance in hearts of adult rodents and the associated loss of CMs contribute at least partially, to the longevity variability observed during normal aging of rats through activation of programmed necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the electrophysiology of undifferentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Characteristics of stem cells; Difference between hMSC with other cell types; Issues relating to the biology of undifferentiated MSC.