Pitx2c modulates cardiac-specific transcription factors networks in differentiating cardiomyocytes from XXXX embryonic stem cells.

@entity14662 @entity25734 @entity26797 @entity16467 @entity19 @entity26384 @entity7006 @entity16898
AIM: The knowledge of the molecular signals that control cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes is critical to apply cell-based therapies and repair an injured heart. The transcription factor @entity26797 has essential roles in the development of different organs including the heart. Although a direct role of @entity26797 in the developing myocardium has recently been reported, the molecular pathways driven by @entity26797 as well as its cardiac target genes remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to unravel the molecular mechanisms driven by @entity26797 during the process of cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro in @entity19 embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pitx2c was overexpressed in the R1-embryonic stem cell line. mRNA levels and protein distribution of several specific cardiac genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry experiments in R1-embryonic stem cell-derived beating areas at different stages of in vitro differentiation. Our results show that overexpression of Pitx2c in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is able to dynamically upregulate several cardiac-enriched transcription factors such as @entity16467 , @entity25734 and @entity7006 . Additionally, Pitx2c induces the expression of chamber-specific cardiac genes such as @entity26384 , @entity14662 and @entity16898 . These data were validated in an in vivo model of @entity26797 loss of function. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results demonstrate that @entity26797 plays a major role reinforcing the transcriptional program of cardiac differentiation.
