Directed Fusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Cardiomyocytes via VSV-G Facilitates Stem Cell Programming

Figure 3

Phenotypic and morphologic characteristics of vMSC-CM fusion products. After pH-induced fusion, fusion products display two distinct morphologies: CM-like (round) and MSC-like (spread). Fusion products were probed for markers indicative of MSC (CD105) and CM (MF20) phenotype. (a) MF20⁺/CD105⁺ cells are significantly increased with vMSCs at day 5 relative to untransfected MSCs, while the culture environment (MSC medium and CM medium) had no effect on the percent of dual positive events in vMSC-CM cocultures at day 5. ^∗𝑃<0.05. (b) Morphology of MF20⁺/CD105⁺ cells was typically CM-like and culture environment did not alter this tendency. ^∗𝑃<0.05. (c) Representative morphologies of MF20⁺/CD105⁺ cells. White arrows indicate MF20⁺/CD105⁺ cells. Scale bar = 25 μm.

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