ETS2 and MESP1 generate cardiac progenitors from fibroblasts
A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.
1. A method for preparing a cardiac progenitor cell, the method comprising:
(a) transducing a somatic cell with an ETS2 reprogramming factor forming an ETS2 treated cell, wherein the ETS2 treated cell produces a pluripotent stem cell marker protein not present in the somatic cell; and
(b) transducing the ETS2 treated cell with a Mesp1 reprogramming factor forming a cardiac progenitor cell, wherein the cardiac progenitor cell produces a cardiac cell marker protein neither expressed in the somatic cell nor in the ETS2 treated cell;
wherein the somatic cell is a normal human dermal fibroblast cell.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ETS2 comprises the DNA sequence having SEQ ID NO:9.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Mespl comprises the DNA sequence having SEQ ID NO:6.