Oxytocin induces cardiac differentiation of dedifferentiated FAT cells

AIM:To explore whether oxytocin (OT) could induce cardiomyogenic differentiation of DFAT in vitro. METHODS: Mature adipocytes were isolated from human adipose tissue and were dedifferentiated into DFAT via ceiling culture. Cultured DFAT cells were treated with different concentrations of OT (1×10-8 mol/L, 1×10-7 mol/L or 1×10-6 mol/L) for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. DFAT cells cultured without OT served as control. Cells were evaluated morphologically and immunocytochemically as well as by RT-PCR and Western blot. Human cardiomyocytes were used as positive control. RESULTS: Most DFAT cells treated with 1×10-6 mol/L OT died after 3 days. After treatment with oxytocin (1×10-8 mol/L, 1×10-7 mol/L) for 3 weeks, DFAT cells expressed cardiac markers including Nkx2.5, GATA4, and cardiac troponin T at both gene and protein levels. CONCLUSION: OT may induce cardiomyogenic differentiation of DFAT.