Stromal cell-derived factor-1 promotes bone marrow-derived cells differentiation to cardiomyocyte phenotypes in vitro

Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of bone marrow‐derived cells (BMDC) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Up‐regulation of stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1), a member of the chemokine CXC subfamily, mediating recruitment of BMDC has been documented in infarcted myocardium; however, it remains unknown whether SDF‐1 plays a role in cardiomyogenesis of BMDC. Materials and methods: Adherent BMDCs were cultured with SDF‐1, or specific inhibitor for PI3K, CXCR4 or Akt with SDF‐1, respectively. After 2 weeks, mRNAs and proteins from BMDCs were examined. Results: Two weeks after supplementation with SDF‐1, either murine or human adherent BMDC cultured in vitro expressed cardiac specific mRNAs (NKX2.5, atrial natriuretic factor and heavy chain β‐myosin) and proteins (troponin I and heavy chain cardiac myosin), and expression levels were partly decreased by combined treatment of CXCR4, PI3K or Akt inhibitor, with SDF‐1. Conclusions: The novel findings suggest that beyond its role in mobilization and homing of BMDC, SDF‐1 can promote BMDC to give rise to cardiomyocyte phenotypes in vitro, and the SDF‐1/CXCR4/PI3K/Akt pathway may be one of the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiomyogenesis.