TGF-Β 2 Enhances Differentiation of Cardiac Myocytes from ES Cells

Heart tissue is notoriously slow in spontaneous repair, and seldom does so without significant residual damage. Recent progress in successful cell transplantation in injured myocardium associated with improved cardiac function as a treatment has received significant attention and provide great promise for tissue regeneration. The application, however, has been limited by the availability of suitable cells and in sufficient number.

Recent research reported by Dinender Kumar et al

in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications volume 332, page 135-141 has examined the role of three isoforms of the Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) beta molecule for their influence upon the differentiation of ES Cells from the mouse to Cardiac Myocytes.

Interestingly, this study found that the TGF beta-2 isoform significantly increased embryoid body proliferation as well as the extent of the embryoid body outgrowth that beat regularly. At 17 days spontaneous beating was exhibited in 49% of samples as opposed to just 15% in controls. The results of this study have possible implications for the more efficient use of embryonic stem cells in the treatment of cardiac tissue regeneration.

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