Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Cardiac Differentiation, Reprogramming, and Regenerative Therapies

Figure 1

ROS are important for initial stage of differentiation but dispensable for the late stage. ROS are generated by multiple pathways and involved in differentiation of PSCs in response to developmental cues. After closure of mPTP, ROS are decreased and redox signaling is set for further differentiation and functional maturation, while excessive ROS levels would inhibit this process through increased oxidative stress and degradation of structural proteins, eventually leading to apoptotic cell death. NOXs: NADPH oxidases; TF: transcription factor; PGC-1α: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α; mPTP: mitochondrial permeability transition pore; PSCs: pluripotent stem cells; CMs: cardiomyocytes.