| First Author | Nelson DO | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Stem Cells | Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | 2875-2888 |
| PubMed ID | 27570947 | Mgi Jnum | J:239011 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5824773 | Doi | 10.1002/stem.2486 |
| Citation | Nelson DO, et al. (2016) Irx4 Marks a Multipotent, Ventricular-Specific Progenitor Cell. Stem Cells 34(12):2875-2888 |
| abstractText | While much progress has been made in the resolution of the cellular hierarchy underlying cardiogenesis, our understanding of chamber-specific myocardium differentiation remains incomplete. To better understand ventricular myocardium differentiation, we targeted the ventricle-specific gene, Irx4, in mouse embryonic stem cells to generate a reporter cell line. Using an antibiotic-selection approach, we purified Irx4+ cells in vitro from differentiating embryoid bodies. The isolated Irx4+ cells proved to be highly proliferative and presented Cxcr4, Pdgfr-alpha, Flk1, and Flt1 on the cell surface. Single Irx4+ ventricular progenitor cells (VPCs) exhibited cardiovascular potency, generating endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and ventricular myocytes in vitro. The ventricular specificity of the Irx4+ population was further demonstrated in vivo as VPCs injected into the cardiac crescent subsequently produced Mlc2v+ myocytes that exclusively contributed to the nascent ventricle at E9.5. These findings support the existence of a newly identified ventricular myocardial progenitor. This is the first report of a multipotent cardiac progenitor that contributes progeny specific to the ventricular myocardium. Stem Cells 2016;34:2875-2888. |
