Matrix rigidity and cardiac reprogramming
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ABSTRACT: Direct cardiac reprogramming from fibroblasts holds great potential for disease modeling, drug screening, and regeneration. However, cardiac reprogramming remains inefficient in vitro, and induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) generated in vitro are less mature than those in vivo, suggesting undefined biophysical factors may inhibit cardiac reprogramming. Previous studies mainly used conventional polystyrene dishes, and thus the effect of matrix rigidity on cardiac reprogramming remains unclear. Here, we developed a Matrigel-based hydrogel culture system to determine the effect of matrix rigidity and mechanotransduction on cardiac reprogramming. We found that soft matrix rigidity comparable to myocardium greatly enhanced cardiac reprogramming in combination with Gata4, Hand2, Mef2c, and Tbx5. Mechanistically, soft matrix enhanced cardiac reprogramming via inhibition of Rho/ROCK, actomyosin, and YAP/TAZ pathway, and suppression of fibroblast program, which were activated on rigid substrate. Intriguingly, inhibition of YAP/TAZ further suppressed integrin-mediated signaling to create a positive feedback loop for robust reprogramming. Thus, mechanotransduction may represent a new target for cardiac reprogramming.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE125811 | GEO | 2020/08/28
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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