Growth differentiation factor 11 promotes cardiac differentiation of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells

AIM To study the effect of growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF-11) on the cardiac differentiation of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) and to provide promising cells and an experimental basis for the cellular biological therapy of cardiomyocyte regeneration. METHODS MiPSCs were cultured using conventional methods and were divided into GDF-11 group and control group. The differentiation medium of the GDF-11 group contained 10 ng/ml GDF-11. Embryoid bodies (EBs) were formed using the hanging drop method and the number of beating EBs was calculated daily. Expression of pluripotent stem cell marker Oct-4, cardiac mesoderm marker Flk-1, cardiac progenitor marker Nkx2.5 and cardiac specific marker cTnT were detected using qRT-PCR. The expression of cTnI was observed using immunoflourensence staining. RESULTS Expression levels of Oct-4 in GDF-11 group at day 3 and day 7 were (0.55±0.31)-fold (P<0.01) and (0.41±0.57)-fold (P<0.05) of those in the control group. The expressions of flk-1 and Nkx2.5 in GDF-11 group at day 10 were higher (2.09±0.8)-fold (P<0.05) and (2.47±0.22)-fold (P<0.01) than the control group. In addition, GDF-11 group at days 10 and 14 had a (1.81±0.19)-fold change (P<0.01) and a (1.61±0.20)-fold change (P<0.01) of cTnT expression compared with those in the control group. Beating areas were found in both groups, but GDF-11 group had a higher percentage of beating EBs. Immunoflourensence staining showed more cTnI positive cells in the GDF-11 group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION GDF-11 significantly enhances cardiac differentiation of miPSCs.