This work is supported, in parts, by the National Institutes of Health grants HL-113281 and HL116205 to Paras Kumar Mishra.

The housing, anesthesia, and sacrifice of mice were performed following the approved IACUC protocol of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
1. Materials
<ol>
	<li>Use 10- to 12-week-old C57BL/6J black male mice, kept in-house at the institutional animal facility, for the isolation of CSCs. CSCs can also be isolated from non-pregnant female mice.</li>
	<li>Sterilize all the necessary surgical instruments, including surgical scissors, fine surgical scissors, curved shank forceps, and a s...

<ol>
	<li>Benjamin, E. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heart+Disease+and+Stroke+Statistics-2017+Update:+A+Report+From+the+American+Heart+Association.">Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.</a> Circulation. 135, e146 (2017).</li><li>Nguyen, P. K., Rhee, J. W., Wu, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adult+Stem+Cell+Therapy+and+Heart+Failure,+2000+to+2016:+A+Systematic+Review.">Adult Stem Cell Therapy and Heart Failure, 2000 to 2016: A Systematic Review.</a> The Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology. 1, 831-841 (2000).</li><li>Emmert, M. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Safety+and+efficacy+of+cardiopoietic+stem+cells+in+the+treatment+of+post-infarction+left-ventricular+dysfunction+-+From+cardioprotection+to+functional+repair+in+a+translational+pig+infarction+model.">Safety and efficacy of cardiopoietic stem cells in the treatment of post-infarction left-ventricular dysfunction - From cardioprotection to functional repair in a translational pig infarction model.</a> Biomaterials. 122, 48-62 (2017).</li><li>Silvestre, J. S., Menasche, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Evolution+of+the+Stem+Cell+Theory+for+Heart+Failure.">The Evolution of the Stem Cell Theory for Heart Failure.</a> EBioMedicine. 2, 1871-1879 (2015).</li><li>Terzic, A., Behfar, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cell+therapy+for+heart+failure:+Ensuring+regenerative+proficiency.">Stem cell therapy for heart failure: Ensuring regenerative proficiency.</a> Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 26, 395-404 (2016).</li><li>Yamada, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+stem+cell+therapy+of+heart+failure+in+genetic+cardiomyopathy.">Embryonic stem cell therapy of heart failure in genetic cardiomyopathy.</a> Stem Cells. 26, 2644-2653 (2008).</li><li>Sadek, H. A., Martin, C. M., Latif, S. S., Garry, M. G., Garry, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bone-marrow-derived+side+population+cells+for+myocardial+regeneration.">Bone-marrow-derived side population cells for myocardial regeneration.</a> Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research. 2, 173-181 (2009).</li><li>Vrtovec, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+intracoronary+CD34++stem+cell+transplantation+in+nonischemic+dilated+cardiomyopathy+patients:+5-year+follow-up.">Effects of intracoronary CD34+ stem cell transplantation in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients: 5-year follow-up.</a> Circulation Research. 112, 165-173 (2013).</li><li>Hare, J. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+allogeneic+vs+autologous+bone+marrow-derived+mesenchymal+stem+cells+delivered+by+transendocardial+injection+in+patients+with+ischemic+cardiomyopathy:+the+POSEIDON+randomized+trial.">Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the POSEIDON randomized trial.</a> The Journal of American Medical Association. 308, 2369-2379 (2012).</li><li>Guijarro, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intramyocardial+transplantation+of+mesenchymal+stromal+cells+for+chonic+myocardial+ischemia+and+impaired+left+ventricular+function:+Results+of+the+MESAMI+1+pilot+trial.">Intramyocardial transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells for chonic myocardial ischemia and impaired left ventricular function: Results of the MESAMI 1 pilot trial.</a> International Journal of Cardiology. 209, 258-265 (2016).</li><li>Bobi, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracoronary+Administration+of+Allogeneic+Adipose+Tissue-Derived+Mesenchymal+Stem+Cells+Improves+Myocardial+Perfusion+But+Not+Left+Ventricle+Function,+in+a+Translational+Model+of+Acute+Myocardial+Infarction.">Intracoronary Administration of Allogeneic Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Myocardial Perfusion But Not Left Ventricle Function, in a Translational Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction.</a> Journal of the American Heart Association. 6, (2017).</li><li>Suzuki, E., Fujita, D., Takahashi, M., Oba, S., Nishimatsu, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adipose+tissue-derived+stem+cells+as+a+therapeutic+tool+for+cardiovascular+disease.">Adipose tissue-derived stem cells as a therapeutic tool for cardiovascular disease.</a> World Journal of Cardiology. 7, 454-465 (2015).</li><li>Gao, L. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracoronary+infusion+of+Wharton's+jelly-derived+mesenchymal+stem+cells+in+acute+myocardial+infarction:+double-blind,+randomized+controlled+trial.">Intracoronary infusion of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells in acute myocardial infarction: double-blind, randomized controlled trial.</a> BMC Medicine. 13, 162 (2015).</li><li>Simpson, D. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+strong+regenerative+ability+of+cardiac+stem+cells+derived+from+neonatal+hearts.">A strong regenerative ability of cardiac stem cells derived from neonatal hearts.</a> Circulation. , S46-S53 (2012).</li><li>Kazakov, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=C-kit(+)+resident+cardiac+stem+cells+improve+left+ventricular+fibrosis+in+pressure+overload.">C-kit(+) resident cardiac stem cells improve left ventricular fibrosis in pressure overload.</a> Stem Cell Research. 15, 700-711 (2015).</li><li>Ong, S. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cross+talk+of+combined+gene+and+cell+therapy+in+ischemic+heart+disease:+role+of+exosomal+microRNA+transfer.">Cross talk of combined gene and cell therapy in ischemic heart disease: role of exosomal microRNA transfer.</a> Circulation. 130, S60-S69 (2014).</li><li>Sahoo, S., Losordo, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exosomes+and+cardiac+repair+after+myocardial+infarction.">Exosomes and cardiac repair after myocardial infarction.</a> Circulation Research. 114, 333-344 (2014).</li><li>Zhang, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pretreatment+of+Cardiac+Stem+Cells+With+Exosomes+Derived+From+Mesenchymal+Stem+Cells+Enhances+Myocardial+Repair.">Pretreatment of Cardiac Stem Cells With Exosomes Derived From Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Myocardial Repair.</a> Journal of the American Heart Association. 5, (2016).</li><li>Ibrahim, A. G., Cheng, K., Marban, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exosomes+as+critical+agents+of+cardiac+regeneration+triggered+by+cell+therapy.">Exosomes as critical agents of cardiac regeneration triggered by cell therapy.</a> Stem Cell Reports. 2, 606-619 (2014).</li><li>Emanueli, C., Shearn, A. I., Angelini, G. D., Sahoo, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exosomes+and+exosomal+miRNAs+in+cardiovascular+protection+and+repair.">Exosomes and exosomal miRNAs in cardiovascular protection and repair.</a> Vascular Pharmacology. 71, 24-30 (2015).</li><li>Menasche, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiac+cell+therapy:+lessons+from+clinical+trials.">Cardiac cell therapy: lessons from clinical trials.</a> Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 50, 258-265 (2011).</li><li>Trounson, A., McDonald, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+Cell+Therapies+in+Clinical+Trials:+Progress+and+Challenges.">Stem Cell Therapies in Clinical Trials: Progress and Challenges.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 17, 11-22 (2015).</li><li>Takamiya, M., Haider, K. H., Ashaf, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+and+characterization+of+a+novel+multipotent+sub-population+of+Sca-1(+)+cardiac+progenitor+cells+for+myocardial+regeneration.">Identification and characterization of a novel multipotent sub-population of Sca-1(+) cardiac progenitor cells for myocardial regeneration.</a> PLoS One. 6, e25265 (2011).</li><li>Cambria, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+cardiac+stem+cell+therapy:+advancing+from+first-generation+to+next-generation+cell+types.">Translational cardiac stem cell therapy: advancing from first-generation to next-generation cell types.</a> NPJ Regenerative Medicine. 2, 17 (2017).</li><li>Bruyneel, A. A., Sehgal, A., Malandraki-Miller, S., Carr, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+Cell+Therapy+for+the+Heart:+Blind+Alley+or+Magic+Bullet?.">Stem Cell Therapy for the Heart: Blind Alley or Magic Bullet?.</a> Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research. 9, 405-418 (2016).</li><li>Garbern, J. C., Lee, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiac+stem+cell+therapy+and+the+promise+of+heart+regeneration.">Cardiac stem cell therapy and the promise of heart regeneration.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 12, 689-698 (2013).</li><li>Oh, H., Ito, H., Sano, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Challenges+to+success+in+heart+failure:+Cardiac+cell+therapies+in+patients+with+heart+diseases.">Challenges to success in heart failure: Cardiac cell therapies in patients with heart diseases.</a> Journal of Cardiology. 68, 361-367 (2016).</li><li>Smith, A. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+characterization+of+resident+endogenous+c-Kit++cardiac+stem+cells+from+the+adult+mouse+and+rat+heart.">Isolation and characterization of resident endogenous c-Kit+ cardiac stem cells from the adult mouse and rat heart.</a> Nature Protocols. 9, 1662-1681 (2014).</li><li>Rutering, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+Method+for+Isolation+of+Neonatal+Rat+Cardiomyocytes+with+Increased+Yield+of+C-Kit++Cardiac+Progenitor+Cells.">Improved Method for Isolation of Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes with Increased Yield of C-Kit+ Cardiac Progenitor Cells.</a> Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 5, 1-8 (2015).</li><li>Saravanakumar, M., Devaraj, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distribution+and+homing+pattern+of+c-kit++Sca-1++CXCR4++resident+cardiac+stem+cells+in+neonatal,+postnatal,+and+adult+mouse+heart.">Distribution and homing pattern of c-kit+ Sca-1+ CXCR4+ resident cardiac stem cells in neonatal, postnatal, and adult mouse heart.</a> Cardiovascular Pathology. 22, 257-263 (2013).</li><li>Monsanto, M. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Concurrent+Isolation+of+3+Distinct+Cardiac+Stem+Cell+Populations+From+a+Single+Human+Heart+Biopsy.">Concurrent Isolation of 3 Distinct Cardiac Stem Cell Populations From a Single Human Heart Biopsy.</a> Circulation Research. 121, 113-124 (2017).</li><li>Vidyasekar, P., Shyamsunder, P., Santhakumar, R., Arun, R., Verma, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simplified+protocol+for+the+isolation+and+culture+of+cardiomyocytes+and+progenitor+cells+from+neonatal+mouse+ventricles.">A simplified protocol for the isolation and culture of cardiomyocytes and progenitor cells from neonatal mouse ventricles.</a> European Journal of Cell Biology. 94, 444-452 (2015).</li><li>Dergilev, K. 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J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiomyogenic+potential+of+C-kit(+)-expressing+cells+derived+from+neonatal+and+adult+mouse+hearts.">Cardiomyogenic potential of C-kit(+)-expressing cells derived from neonatal and adult mouse hearts.</a> Circulation. 121, 1992-2000 (1992).</li><li>Wang, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+characterization+of+a+Sca-1+/CD31-+progenitor+cell+lineage+derived+from+mouse+heart+tissue.">Isolation and characterization of a Sca-1+/CD31- progenitor cell lineage derived from mouse heart tissue.</a> BMC Biotechnology. 14, 75 (2014).</li><li>Smits, A. 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The critical steps of this CSC isolation protocol are as follows. 1) A sterilized condition must be maintained for extraction of the hearts from the mice. Any contamination during the heart extraction may compromise the quality of the CSCs. 2) The blood must be completely removed before mincing the heart, which is done by several washes of the whole heart and the heart pieces with HBSS solution. 3) The heart pieces must be completely lysed into a single-cell suspension with collagenase solution. 4) The polysucrose and so...

Ischemic heart disease, including myocardial infarction (MI), is a major cause of death around the world1. Stem cell therapy for regenerating dead myocardium remains a major approach to improve the cardiac function of an MI heart2,3,4,5. Different types of stem cells have been used to replenish dead myocardium and to improve the cardiac function of an MI heart. They can be broadly categorized into embryonic stem cells6 and adult stem cells. In adult stem cells, various types of stem cells have been used, such as bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells7,8, mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow9,10, adipose tissue11,12, and umbilical cord13, and CSCs14,15. Stem cells can promote cardiac regeneration through endocrine and/or paracrine actions16,17,18,19,20. However, a major limitation of stem cell therapy is obtaining an adequate number of stem cells that can proliferate and/or differentiate toward a specific cardiac lineage21,22. Autologous and allogenic transplantation of stem cells is an important challenge in stem cell therapy9. CSCs could be a better approach for cardiac regeneration because they are derived from the heart and they can be more easily differentiated into cardiac lineages than non-cardiac stem cells. Thus, it reduces the risk of teratoma. In addition, the endocrine and paracrine effects of CSCs, such as exosomes and miRNAs derived from the CSCs, could be more effective than other types of stem cells. Thus, CSCs remains a better option for cardiac regeneration23,24.
Although CSCs are a better candidate for cardiac regeneration in an MI heart due to their cardiac origin, a major limitation with CSCs is less yield due to the lack of an efficient isolation method. Another limitation could be the impaired differentiation of CSCs toward cardiomyocytes lineage2,25,26,27. To circumvent these limitations, it is important to develop an efficient protocol for CSC isolation, characterization, and differentiation towards cardiac lineage. There is no single acceptable marker for CSCs and a specific cell-surface marker-based isolation of CSCs yields less CSCs. Here, we standardize a simple gradient centrifugation approach to isolate CSCs from the mouse heart that is cost-effective and results in an increased yield of CSCs. These isolated CSCs can be selected for specific cell-surface markers by fluorescence-activated cell shorting. In addition to CSCs isolation, we provided a protocol for CSC culture, characterization, and differentiation towards cardiomyocyte lineage. Thus, we present an elegant method to isolate, characterize, culture, and differentiate CSCs from adult mouse hearts (Figure 5).

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Mice</td>
			<td>The Jackson laboratory, USA</td>
			<td>Stock no. 000664</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibodies:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>OCT4-</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab18976 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>OCT4-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SOX2</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab97959 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>SOX2-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nanog</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab80892 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>Nanog-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ki67</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab16667 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>Ki67-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sca I</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>AB4336 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>Sca I Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NKX2-5</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-8697 (goat polyclonal)</td>
			<td>NKX2-5-Primary antibody- 1:50 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GATA4</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab84593 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td>GATA4-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEF2C</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-13268 (goat polyclonal)</td>
			<td>MEF2C-Primary antibody- 1:50 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Troponin I</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB1691 (mouse monoclonal)</td>
			<td>Troponin I-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Actinin</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB1682 (mouse monoclonal)</td>
			<td>Actinin-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ANP</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>AB5490 (mouse polyclonal)</td>
			<td>ANP-Primary antibody- 1:100 dilution, Secondar antibody- 1:200 dilution, in blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alex Fluor-488 checken anti-rabbit</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>Ref no. A21441</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alex Fluor-594 goat anti-rabbit</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>Ref no. A11012</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alex Fluor-594 rabbit anti-goat</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>Ref no. A11078</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alex Fluor-488 checken anti-mouse</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>Ref no. A21200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alex Fluor-594 checken anti-goat</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>Ref no. A21468</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture medium: </td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CSC maintenance medium</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>SCM101</td>
			<td>Note: For CSC culture, PBS or incomplete DMEM medium was used for washing the cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>cardiomyocytes differentiation medium</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>SCM102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D5546</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Isolation buffer:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution (Histopaque1077)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>10771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>2018-03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase I</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C0130</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispase solution</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>7913</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>LONZA</td>
			<td>S1226</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent</td>
			<td>Thermoscientific</td>
			<td>A1110501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Other reagents:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7030</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Normal checken serum</td>
			<td>Vector laboratory</td>
			<td>S3000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI solution</td>
			<td>Applichem</td>
			<td>A100,0010</td>
			<td>Dapi, working concentration-1 &#181;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>145-0013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T4049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A1110501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>158127</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>ACROS</td>
			<td>Cas No. 900-293-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween 20</td>
			<td>Fisher Sceintific</td>
			<td>Lot No. 160170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue culture materials:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm petri dish</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6-well plate</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well plate</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-25 flask</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-75 flask</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 ml conical tube</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL conical tube</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>40 &#181;m cell stainer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>22363547</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 &#181;m cell stainer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>22363549</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.22 &#181;m filter</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>09-719C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL syring</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>Ref no. 309604</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 &#181;L, 200 &#181;L, 1000 &#181;L pipette tips</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 mL, 10mL, 25 mL disposible plastic pipette</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrufuge machine</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>LEGEND X1R centrifuge</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS microscope</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Automated cell counter</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell counting slide</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>145-0011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pippte aid</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>S1 pipet filler</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical Instruments:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Scientific Tool</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine surgical scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Scientific Tool</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Curve shank forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Scientific Tool</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical blade</td>
			<td>Fine Scientific Tool</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation, characterization, and differentiation of cardiac stem cells from the adult mouse heart

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. A major goal of regenerative medicine is to replenish the dead myocardium after MI. Although several strategies have been used to regenerate myocardium, stem cell therapy remains a major approach to replenish the dead myocardium of an MI heart. Accumulating evidence suggests the presence of resident cardiac stem cells (CSCs) in the adult heart and their endocrine and/or paracrine effects on cardiac regeneration. However, CSC isolation and their characterization and differentiation toward myocardial cells, especially cardiomyocytes, remains a technical challenge. In the present study, we provided a simple method for the isolation, characterization, and differentiation of CSCs from the adult mouse heart. Here, we describe a density gradient method for the isolation of CSCs, where the heart is digested by a 0.2% collagenase II solution. To characterize the isolated CSCs, we evaluated the expression of CSCs/cardiac markers Sca-1, NKX2-5, and GATA4, and pluripotency/stemness markers OCT4, SOX2, and Nanog. We also determined the proliferation potential of isolated CSCs by culturing them in a Petri dish and assessing the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67. For evaluating the differentiation potential of CSCs, we selected seven- to ten-days cultured CSCs. We transferred them to a new plate with a cardiomyocyte differentiation medium. They are incubated in a cell culture incubator for 12 days, while the differentiation medium is changed every three days. The differentiated CSCs express cardiomyocyte-specific markers: actinin and troponin I. Thus, CSCs isolated with this protocol have stemness and cardiac markers, and they have a potential for proliferation and differentiation toward cardiomyocyte lineage.

In the present study, we isolated CSCs from 10- to 12-week-old C57BL/6J male mice hearts. Here, we have presented a simple method for CSC isolation and characterization using markers of pluripotency. We also presented an elegant method for CSC differentiation and the characterization of CSCs that differentiated toward cardiomyocytes lineage. We observed a spindle shape morphology of 2- to 3-days-cultured CSCs under a phase-contrast microscope (Figure&#160;1A ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Cardiac Stem Cells from the Adult Mouse Heart at JoVE.com

Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Cardiac Stem Cells from the Adult Mouse Heart

The overall goal of this article is to standardize the protocol for the isolation, characterization, and differentiation of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from the adult mouse heart. Here, we describe a density gradient centrifugation method to isolate murine CSCs and elaborated methods for CSC culture, proliferation, and differentiation into cardiomyocytes.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. A major goal of regenerative medicine is to replenish the dead ...

The overall goal of this article, is to standardize the protocol for the isolation, characterization, and differentiation of cardiac stem cells, CSCs from the Adult Mouse Heart. This method can help answering key questions, in the field of cardiovascular disease and regional therapy such as, cardiac stem cell therapy and heart failure. The main advantage of this technique is that it is cost effective, with high aid in small period of time.Start this experiment by preparing all the necessary materials, instruments, and isolation buffers in a sterilized condition as described in the protocol. After removing the skin from the abdomen of a euthanized mouse, cut the ribcage inside the sterile hood to open the thoracic cavity. Expose the heart and then remove the blood near the heart using a one milliliter syringe.To remove any blood near the heart, wash the surrounding area with ice cold PBS. Using surgical scissors and tweezers to dissect the heart, place it in a 100 millimeter Petri dish containing 10 milliliters ice cold PBS. Use curved shank forceps to palpitate the heart, and remove the residual blood inside the heart.Transfer four to five isolated hearts to a 100 milliliter Petri dish containing 10 milliliters of ice cold Ham's Balanced Salt Solution. Palpate the hearts again to wash them and remove any residual blood inside the heart. To ensure the complete removal of the blood, change the HBSS solution after each wash.Hold each heart with a pair of forceps and use a surgical blade to cut each heart into two to four millimeter pieces in a 100 millimeter Petri dish, containing five to seven milliliters of HBSS. Frequently change the solution to ensure complete blood removal. Finally, mince the hearts in the HBSS solution.Centrifuge the minced hearts placed in a 50 milliliter conical tube at 500 times G, at four degrees Celsius for five minutes, and then discard the supernatant. Add five to six milliliters, 0.2%Collagenase II solution to the pellet to digest the tissue. Re-suspend the pellet thoroughly by rocking the tube on a shaker at 75 times G, at 37 degrees Celsius for 45 to 60 minutes.Every 20 to 30 minutes, shake the tube vigorously by hand to enhance the lysis. Triturate the lysed tissue mix using five milliliters serological pipette, and a one milliliter pipette tip to dissociate the tissue lump into the single cell suspension. To stop the enzymatic lysis of the tissue, add two to three times as much commercially available CSC maintenance medium as the volume of the lysed tissue.Pass the digested cell suspension through a 100 micrometer cell strainer placed on a 50 milliliter conical tube to remove any undigested tissue pieces. To separate the cells to density gradient centrifugation, add 37 degrees Celsius, pre-warmed, polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution to a 50 milliliter conical tube. Then gently and slowly add an equal volume of filtrate over the solution, avoiding any mixing of the two solutions.It is critical to add filtrate over polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution slowly without mixing by tilting the tube at 45 degrees and against the wall of the tube. Do not add polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution over filtrate. Place the tube very slowly in a swing bucket centrifuge making sure not to disturb the solutions.Centrifuge at 500 times G for 20 minutes at room temperature set at a lower acceleration and deceleration speed to avoid mixing the two solutions, and for proper separation of the cardiac stem cells. It is critical to put the gradient solution very carefully without disturbance in the centrifuge. Put the acceleration and deceleration of the centrifuge must be at lowest speed, such as one or zero.Use a one millimeter pipette to transfer the buffy coat containing the CSCs along with extra solution from the upper layer to a 15 milliliter sterilized tube. Add an equal volume of CSC maintenance medium, and mix it properly to neutralize the residual polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution. Centrifuge this suspension at 500 times G for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.Discard the supernatant. Repeat the washing of CSCs with incomplete DMEM Solution at least for two times. Centrifuge at 500 times G for five minutes at four degrees Celsius to get rid of any residual polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate solution.After removing the supernatant, resuspend the pellet containing purified CSCs in one milliliter CSC maintenance medium, and then count the cells. Seed the CSCs in a six-well culture plate coated with a 0.02%gelatin solution containing 0.5%fibronectin, and add two milliliters of complete maintenance medium. Grow the cells at 37 degrees Celsius in 5%CO2.When the CSC culture reaches confluency, transfer the cells to a new gelatin and fibronectin coated plate as described in the text protocol. Culture these transferred P0 CSCs in complete CSC maintenance medium at 37 degrees Celsius in a 5%CO2 incubator until confluent. Repeat the cell transfer to a new plate to make P1 CSCs which can be used for further experiments.To maintain the CSC culture at its initial stage, seed the cells further as described in the text protocol. To characterize the cultured cells, place the CSC containing plate on the objective of a fluorescent microscope. Use ten times magnification to focus the cells.To observe the cells, use phase-contrast aperture, and increase the magnification to 20 times by changing the objective lens, and then image the CSCs. After performing the immunostaining, place the culture plate under the fluorescence microscope. Focus the cells at different magnifications, and observe the cells under phase contrast and different excitation filters, and save the images.For cell differentiation, grow the CSCs in a six-well plate with two milliliters of 37 degrees Celsius, pre-warmed CSC maintenance medium. When the cells reach 80 to 95%confluency, replace the maintenance medium with two milliliters, 37 degrees Celsius, pre-warmed cardiomyocytes differentiation medium. Incubate at 37 degrees Celsius, in a 5%CO2 for up to two to three weeks.Change the differentiation medium every two to three days. During the medium change, observe the cell morphology under a microscope to ensure the good culture conditions. After 12 days, image the cells for differentiation markers following a standard immunostaining protocol.Two to three days cultured CSCs show a spindle-shaped morphology when observed under a phase-contrast microscope. After seven days of culture, they show a change in morphology becoming elongated. After immunostaining for markers of pluripotency, CSCs show expressions of OCT4, SOX2, and Nanog.Furthermore, CSCs proliferate in culture medium, and express the proliferation marker Ki67. To characterize the cardiac origin of CSCs, expression of cardiac markers was examined, and the cells showed to be positive for cardiac markers Sca-1, NKX2.5, and GATA4. After culturing in cardiomyocyte differentiation medium for 12 days, differentiated CSCs show expression of cardiomyocyte markers ACTININ, and TROPONIN-I.While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to not allow mixing of the gradient solution and the filtrate. It is also important to set the acceleration and deceleration at lowest speed. Whoever contaminates them, it is recommended to perform all cell isolation process inside a biosafety cabinet.Following this procedure, other methods like magnetic-bead based separation or flow cytometic based cell sorting methods can be performed in order to answer additional questions such as, how clear is the homogeneous population of cardiac stem cells? Crack radius in a cardiac stem cell is big markers, and there are differences toward cardiomyocytes. After it's development, this technique will pave the way for the researchers in the field of cardiovascular disease who often high yield of cardiac stem cells from mouse heart which could be important for regenerative therapy in ischemic heart failure.Do not forget that working with surgical blade, bleach and DMSO can be hazardous, and precautions such as using Personnel Protective Equipments, PPE, should always be taken while performing this procedure.

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JoVE Journal

Biology

6.5K vistas.  University of Nebraska Medical Center. El objetivo general de este artículo, es estandarizar el protocolo para el aislamiento, caracterización y diferenciación de células madre cardíacas, CSC del corazón de ratón adulto. Este método puede ayudar a responder preguntas clave, en el campo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares y la terapia regional como, terapia con células madre cardíacas e insuficiencia cardíaca. La principal ventaja de esta técnica es que es rentable, con una alta ayuda en un pequeño período de tiempo....