Cardiomyocyte precursors from human embryonic stem cells
This invention provides populations human cells of the cardiomyocyte lineage. The cells are obtained by causing cultures of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate in vitro, and then harvesting cells with certain phenotypic features. Differentiated cells bear cell surface and morphologic markers characteristic of cardiomyocytes, and a proportion of them undergo spontaneous periodic contraction. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocytes and their replicating precursors can be obtained, suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as drug screening and therapy for cardiac disease.
1. A system for the production of human cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells comprising:
a first isolated cell population comprising at least 0.56×10 6 cells differentiated in vitro from a portion of a population of human embryonic stem cells,
wherein the first cell population proliferates in culture and comprises at least 5% cardiomyocytes, identifiable by the criteria that they have spontaneous periodic contractile activity and express at least one of the following markers from an endogenous gene:
cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), or atrial natriuretic factor (ANF); and
a second isolated cell population comprising said human embryonic stem cells,
wherein the second isolated cell population can produce more human cardiomyocytes by in vitro differentiation.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first isolated cell population comprises at least 20% cardiomyocytes.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first isolated cell population comprises at least 60% cardiomyocytes.
4. The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the marker from an endogenous gene is cardiac troponin I (cTnI).
5. The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the marker from an endogenous gene is cardiac troponin T (cTnT).
6. The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the marker from an endogenous gene is atrial natriuretic factor (ANF).
7. The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein at least 18% of the cardiomyocytes express the marker Ki-67.
8. The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the first isolated cell population comprises cells genetically altered to express telomerase reverse transcriptase.