IMT Institutional Repository: No conditions. Results ordered -Date Deposited. 2024-03-29T11:19:13ZEPrintshttp://eprints.imtlucca.it/images/logowhite.pnghttp://eprints.imtlucca.it/2016-03-21T09:35:11Z2016-03-21T09:35:11Zhttp://eprints.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/3250This item is in the repository with the URL: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/32502016-03-21T09:35:11ZThe effect of bioartificial constructs that mimic myocardial structure and biomechanical properties on stem cell commitment towards cardiac lineageAbstract Despite the enormous progress in the treatment of coronary artery diseases, they remain the most common cause of heart failure in the Western countries. New translational therapeutic approaches explore cardiomyogenic differentiation of various types of stem cells in combination with tissue-engineered scaffolds. In this study we fabricated PHBHV/gelatin constructs mimicking myocardial structural properties. Chemical structure and molecular interaction between material components induced specific properties to the substrate in terms of hydrophilicity degree, porosity and mechanical characteristics. Viability and proliferation assays demonstrated that these constructs allow adhesion and growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and cardiac resident non myocytic cells (NMCs). Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that stem cells cultured on these constructs adopt a distribution mimicking the three-dimensional cell alignment of myocardium. qPCR and immunofluorescence analyses showed the ability of this construct to direct initial {MSC} and {NMC} lineage specification towards cardiomyogenesis: both {MSCs} and {NMCs} showed the expression of the cardiac transcription factor GATA-4, fundamental for early cardiac commitment. Moreover {NMCs} also acquired the expression of the cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5 and {TBX5} and produced sarcomeric proteins. This work may represent a new approach to induce both resident and non-resident stem cells to cardiac commitment in a 3-D structure, without using additional stimuli.Caterina CristalliniElisa Cibrario RocchiettiLisa AccomassoAnna FolinoClara GallinaLuisa MuratoriPasquale PagliaroRaffaella RastaldoStefania RaimondoSilvia SaviozziAndrea E. SprioMariacristina Gagliardimariacristina.gagliardi@imtlucca.itNiccoletta BarbaniClaudia Giachino