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. 2013 Mar 12;8(3):e59228. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059228

Figure 4. Cardiomyogenic differentiation of Type A and Type B CPC populations.

Figure 4

(A and B) Type A CPCs differentiated into cardiomyocytes, when treated with dexamethasone. Organized sarcomeric structures were evident. (C and D) Differentiating cells from Type A CPCs formed multi-layered tissue structure resembling muscle fibers, which expressed TnI and Connexin 43 -gap junctions. (E and F) Type B CPCs differentiated into cardiomyocytes and ceased to proliferate (demonstrated by a lack of Ki-67 staining in majority of cells) when treated with 5 -azacytidine. CD45 expression was confirmed in ∼90% of cells (by FACS) before induction of differentiation. Expression of sarcomeric proteins together with N -cadherin was evident. (G and H) Spontaneous differentiation of Type B CPC population into fast proliferating cells (12th passage). Secreted ANF is seen between the cells. Immunostaining was done three weeks after induction of differentiation. Abbreviations: sarc. actinin  =  Sarcomeric α-actinin, MHC: Cardiac myosin heavy chain; ANF: Atrial natriuretic factor; TnI: Troponin I. DAPI  =  blue, bar  = 50 µm.