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Cardiac Bmi1 + cells contribute to myocardial renewal in the murine adult heart

Stem Cell Research & Therapy volume 6, Article number: 205 (2015) Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

The mammalian adult heart maintains a continuous, low cardiomyocyte turnover rate throughout life. Although many cardiac stem cell populations have been studied, the natural source for homeostatic repair has not yet been defined. The Polycomb protein BMI1 is the most representative marker of mouse adult stem cell systems. We have evaluated the relevance and role of cardiac Bmi1 + cells in cardiac physiological homeostasis.

Methods

Bmi1 CreER/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ (Bmi1-YFP) mice were used for lineage tracing strategy. After tamoxifen (TM) induction, yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) is expressed under the control of Rosa26 regulatory sequences in Bmi1 + cells. These cells and their progeny were tracked by FACS, immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR techniques from 5 days to 1 year.

Results

FACS analysis of non-cardiomyocyte compartment from TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mice showed a Bmi1 +-expressing cardiac progenitor cell (Bmi1-CPC: B-CPC) population, SCA-1 antigen-positive (95.9 ± 0.4 %) that expresses some stemness-associated genes. B-CPC were also able to differentiate in vitro to the three main cardiac lineages. Pulse-chase analysis showed that B-CPC remained quite stable for extended periods (up to 1 year), which suggests that this Bmi1 + population contains cardiac progenitors with substantial self-maintenance potential. Specific immunostaining of Bmi1-YFP hearts serial sections 5 days post-TM induction indicated broad distribution of B-CPC, which were detected in variably sized clusters, although no YFP+ cardiomyocytes (CM) were detected at this time. Between 2 to 12 months after TM induction, YFP+ CM were clearly identified (3 ± 0.6 % to 6.7 ± 1.3 %) by immunohistochemistry of serial sections and by flow cytometry of total freshly isolated CM. B-CPC also contributed to endothelial and smooth muscle (SM) lineages in vivo.

Conclusions

High Bmi1 expression identifies a non-cardiomyocyte resident cardiac population (B-CPC) that contributes to the main lineages of the heart in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction

The adult mammalian heart was long considered a terminally differentiated organ with no capacity to replace aged or damaged cardiomyocytes (CM) [1]. This view was challenged by considerable evidence of low but intrinsic CM turnover in the adult mouse heart [2], although the contribution of adult CM turnover to heart homeostasis and the origin of the new cells remain unclear. There is compelling evidence that this low turnover rate throughout heart life mainly reflects the activity of a reservoir of cardiac stem cells (CSC) [3] that might reside in physiological niches [4, 5]. Dedifferentiation and division of pre-existing adult CM populations were recently proposed to contribute notably to heart turnover after myocardial infarction [6, 7].

Adult stem cells maintain and repair host tissues in adult organisms, and self-renewal, differentiation, and prevention of senescence of these cells are thus critical for tissue homeostasis. Adult resident cardiac stem/progenitors are defined primarily by the expression of cell surface markers such as c-KIT [8], SCA-1 [9, 10], ATP-binding cassette ABCG2 [11], PDGFRα [12] or combinations of these. The diversity of these findings has hindered a broad, unambiguous consensus for identification and molecular definition of endogenous CSC [3]. Several authors have emphasized the need for careful in vivo lineage tracing of CSC progeny to ascertain how this cell type contributes to CM replenishment during homeostasis or after myocardial injury [13–15]. Recent lineage tracing studies yielded interesting results. SCA-1 was reported to label a non-cardiomyocyte population in adult heart that clearly contributes to CM generation during homeostasis and normal aging (4.55 ± 0.87 %) [16]. In a c-kit lineage tracing study, c-KIT+ CSC appeared to make a small contribution to the generation of new CM (0.03 ± 0.008 %) in adult mouse heart [17]. Two additional lineage tracing studies, although not directly related to CSC regulation, should be mentioned. Malliaras et al. identified small non-myocyte cells termed cardioblasts (CdBs) that express sarcomeric α-actinin (38 %), α-MHC (39 %) and SCA-1 (55 %) but not c-KIT [18]. Activated CdBs apparently did not originate from hematogenous seeding, cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation, or mere expansion of a preformed progenitor pool; they, therefore, appear to arise by activation/differentiation of the endogenous CSC pool. Finally, a cardiac progenitor population defined as TIE-1+ CPC, a classical endothelial marker, is able to generate 70 % of the SCA-1+ intermediate perivascular progenitors that contribute (up to 3 %) to CM homeostatic turnover origin [19]. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that cardiac progenitor cells support the low CM turnover in the adult heart. Further genetic lineage tracing studies will help to elucidate the complex relationship between these partially different populations.

Bmi1, a member of the Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), is a transcription factor involved in many biological processes including embryonic development, organ formation, tumorigenesis, and stem cell stabilization and differentiation [20]. Bmi1 has a crucial role during self-renewal and maintenance of hematopoietic, neural, intestinal, bronchioalveolar, pancreatic, prostate, lung and epithelial stem cells, as well as in the tongue and in rodent incisors [21–29]. There is little information on the role of Bmi1 in the adult heart. Upregulation of Bmi1 expression is cardioprotective against doxorubicin-induced damage [30]. A recent study demonstrated that, by controlling senescence, Bmi1 expression in adult mouse CM is limiting dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure [31]. Although a significant proportion of c-KIT+ human and porcine CSC expressed low BMI1 levels [32, 33], no specific study has addressed the functional relevance of this factor.

We hypothesized that adult cardiac progenitor cells may be characterized by high Bmi1 expression, as in other adult stem cell compartments [21–29]. Using a validated lineage tracing strategy to track activity of the Bmi1 locus, we show that the adult heart contains a resident non-cardiomyocyte population of Bmi1-expressing progenitor cells that constitute a fraction of the SCA-1+ population. Bmi1-CPC (B-CPC) show enriched expression of several multipotency and stemness markers, and their numbers increase throughout the lifetime of the mouse. B-CPC contribute significantly to the generation of de novo CM, endothelial and SM cells throughout life.

Methods

Transgenic mice and tamoxifen administration

Bmi1 CreER/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ (Bmi1-YFP) mice were generated by crossing the Bmi1 CreER/+ strain with Rosa26 YFP/+ reporter mice. Male and female Bmi1 CreER/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ double heterozygous mice received tamoxifen (TM; Sigma, Madrid, Spain) injections between postnatal days 30 (P30) and P60. TM was dissolved in corn oil (Sigma) to a final concentration of 20 mg/ml and mice received TM (i.p.) every 24 h on three consecutive days (9 mg per 40 g body weight). When indicated, Bmi1 CreER/+; Rosa26 tomato/+ (Bmi1-tomato), Myh6 MerCreMer/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ (Myh6-YFP) and Bmi1 CreER/+; Rosa26 LacZ/+ (Bmi1-LacZ) (Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, California, United States) were used and TM-induced as above. All animal procedures conformed to EU Directive 86/609/EEC and Recommendation 2007/526/EC regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. The ethics committees of the Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) and Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB) approved animal studies.

Immunodetection analysis

Heart immunohistochemistry was performed as previously described [7]. Specific yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) detection with anti-GFP antibody was confirmed by control immunofluorescence analysis of heart sections of TM-injected Rosa26 YFP/+ mice and of non-induced Bmi1-YFP mice (Bmi1-YFPNI); no signal was observed for either (Fig. 2a). For immunodetection, sections were fixed in 2 % paraformaldehyde (PFA) and rinsed in PBS or PHEM buffer (25 mM Hepes, 10 mM EGTA, 60 mM PIPES, 2 mM MgCl2; all from Sigma). Slides were rinsed in blocking buffer (BB; 0.5 % porcine skin gelatin, 0.1 % bovine serum albumin; BSA; Sigma), incubated in 150 mM glycine (Merck, Madrid, Spain) (10 min, room temperature (RT)), followed by sodium borohydride (Sigma; 10 min) and finally in PBS with 0.1 % Triton X-100 (Sigma). Preparations were incubated with primary antibodies (see Additional file 1: Table S1) (1–3 h, RT), washed and incubated with the appropriate secondary antibody (1 h). Slides were incubated with Sytox Green and mounted in ProLong antifade reagent (both from Invitrogen, Madrid, Spain). Images were captured with a Leica SP5, Zeiss LSM 700 or LSM 780 coupled to a two-photon Spectra-Physics Mai Tai laser scanning confocal microscope and were assembled with ImageJ software (NIH). Processing, including assignment of pseudo-colors and changes in brightness, was applied uniformly to the entire image exclusively to equalize the appearance of multiple panels in a single figure. Immunocytochemistry was performed as above.

LacZ staining

Adult cardiomyocytes were fixed in 0.25 % glutaraldehyde (Sigma; 5 min), washed with PBS twice (5 min), then incubated with wash buffer (0.1 M Na2HPO4:2H2O, 0.1 M NaH2PO4:H20, 2 mM MgCl2, 0.11 % sodium deoxycholate, 0.2 % Igepal, 20 mM Tris–HCl pH 7.3) (3 min). Cells were incubated overnight with staining buffer (1 mg/ml X-Gal, 5 mM K4Fe(CN)6, 5 mM K3Fe(CN)6, followed by three washes with PBS (5 min).

Cell isolation, culture and flow cytometry

Hearts were collected from Bmi1-YFP mice five days after TM induction, perfused with PBS to remove blood cells, and processed by enzymatic digestion using 0.1 % collagenase IV (Sigma) and 10 μg/ml DNAse (Roche, Madrid, Spain) (40 min, 37 °C). The resulting single cell suspension was passed through a 40 μm filter to remove debris. YFP+ cells were separated from total heart mass with a BD FacsAria II Special Order System cell sorter fitted with a 488 nm laser to excite YFP (collected in the 525/50 channel). To discriminate YFP+ from autoflorescent cells, a 488 nm laser was used to excite cells, followed by collection in the 585 channel (phycoerythrin). For flow cytometry analysis, cardiac cells from hearts of TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mice were incubated with the following primary and secondary antibodies as indicated: APC (allophycocyanin)-conjugated rat anti-c-KIT, APC-rat anti-SCA-1/Ly6a, biotin-rat anti-SCA-1/Ly6a, biotin-rat anti-CD45, biotin-rat anti-CD31 (all at 1:100; all from BD Pharmingen, Madrid, Spain), and streptavidin-Alexa Fluor 405 conjugate (1:500; Invitrogen). Labeled cells were examined with a BD Facs Canto II flow cytometer and data analyzed using Facs DIVA Software.

Purified YFP+ cells were cultured in Iscove’s modified Dulbecco’s medium (IMDM, Invitrogen) containing 10 % fetal bovine serum (ESCell FBS, Gibco, Madrid, Spain), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine (all from Invitrogen), 103 units ESGRO Supplement (Millipore, Madrid, Spain), 10 ng/ml EGF (epidermal growth factor; Sigma) and 20 ng/ml FGF (fibroblast growth factor; Peprotech, Rocky Hill, New Jersey, United States) (37 °C, 3 % O2, 5 % CO2). The SCA-1+ population was prepared by incubating the Lin− primary cell suspension with rat anti-SCA-1/Ly6a biotin antibody (1:100: Abcam, Cambridge, United Kingdom), followed by isolation with Mouse Anti-Rat Kappa Microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec). In all cases, when preparing SCA-1+ cells, the CD45+ fraction was removed by indirect sorting using the MACS system and AUTOMACS technology (Miltenyi Biotec, Teterow, Germany). Cells were cultured in the same medium as YFP+ cells. Flow cytometry analysis of adult cardiomyocytes was performed in a BD LSR Fortessa TM using a neutral density filter 1.0. R1 mouse embryonic stem cells (ES), a gift from Dr. Miguel Torres (CNIC, Spain), were cultured on mitomycin C (Sigma)-inactivated murine embryonic fibroblasts as feeder cells in DMEM/Glutamax (Invitrogen) supplemented with 20 % ES-qualified FBS (Invitrogen), 103 U/ml LIF (Millipore), 50 μM β-mercaptoethanol (Merck) and 1 % non-essential amino acids (Thermo, Madrid, Spain).

Isolation and biochemical properties of adult mouse cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes were isolated from hearts of TM-induced adult Bmi1-YFP mice. The heart was removed rapidly and retrograde-perfused under constant pressure (60 mmHg; 37 °C, 8 min) in Ca2+-free buffer containing 113 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 5.5 mM glucose, 0.6 mM KH2PO4, 0.6 mM Na2HPO4, 12 mM NaHCO3, 10 mM KHCO3, 10 mM Hepes, 10 mM 2,3-butanedione monoxime, and 30 mM taurine. Digestion was initiated by adding a mixture of recombinant enzymes (0.2 mg/ml Liberase Blendzyme (Roche), 0.14 mg/ml trypsin (Invitrogen), and 12.5 μM CaCl2 to the perfusion solution). When the heart became swollen (10 min), it was removed and gently teased into small pieces with fine forceps in the same enzyme solution. Heart tissue was further dissociated mechanically using 2, 1.5, and 1 mm-diameter pipettes, until all large heart tissue pieces were dispersed. The digestion buffer was neutralized with stopping buffer containing 10 % FBS and 12.5 μM CaCl2. Cardiomyocytes were pelleted by gravity (20 min), the supernatant aspirated and cells resuspended in the perfusion solution containing 5 % FBS and 12.5 μM CaCl2. The calcium concentration was increased by gradually adding CaCl2 from 62 μM to 1 mM final concentration. Cardiomyocytes were plated in culture dishes precoated with 0.5 mg/ml mouse laminin (BD Biosciences) in PBS (1–2 h, RT). Plating medium was Medium 199 Hank’s (Invitrogen), 0.25 % BSA (Sigma), 22 mM NaHCO3, 0.05 % FBS (Sigma), 0.001 % ITS (insulin-transferrin-selenium (Gibco), 10 mM 2,3-butanedione monoxime and 25 μM blebbistatin. After 2 h, cardiomyocytes were fixed with 2 % PFA or were used for the in vitro calcium transient studies. To detect YFP+ cardiomyocytes (YFP+ CM), we used a confocal microscope LSM 780 upright scanning system (Zeiss) equipped with a W 20X Plan-APOCHROMAT dipping objective (numerical aperture (NA) = 1.0). YFP+ CM were detected using the 514 nm laser to excite YFP (acquired in the 535 channel). A transmitted light detector (T-PMT) was used to screen cardiac cell morphology. We captured and stored YFP cardiomyocyte images based on cell coordinates before Fluo-4 labeling.

For Fluo-4 AM labeling, we prepared a stock solution of 1 mM Fluo-4 AM (Invitrogen) in DMSO with an equal volume of 20 % Pluronic F-127 DMSO (1:1 ratio); the working concentration was 1 μM. Fluo-4 AM was added to DMEM supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine; cells were incubated in the dark (20–30 min). We washed the cells and added fresh DMEM without phenol red (Sigma) and images were acquired by confocal microscopy as for Ca2+ fluorescence. Fluo-4 was excited with the 488 nm line of an argon laser and 505 nm signal emissions were collected. Images were captured in a time series (xyt, pixel dwell 1.58 μs) and 2D images (512 × 512 lines) were obtained and stored for offline analysis.

Primary culture of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

Hearts from one-day-old Wistar rats were minced to 1 mm2 and digested with 0.05 % trypsin (Invitrogen) in Hank’s balanced salt solution (Sigma)(37 °C, 40 min). The fragments were digested with 0.1 % collagenase (class II, Worthington Biochemical, Lakewood, New Jersey, United States). Single-cell suspensions were prepared by mechanical pipetting. Cells were passed through a 40 μm filter and preplated in DMEM (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10 % FBS, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine (2 h, 37 °C). Newborn rat cardiomyocytes (NBRC) were collected and seeded on coverslips precoated with gelatin (Invitrogen) and fibronectin (BD Biosciences) in a final medium containing DMEM, M-199 (Gibco) at 4:1, 10 % horse serum (Sigma), 5 % FBS, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin, 2 mM L-glutamine and 1 μg/ml cytosine α-D-arabinofuranoside (Sigma). Neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes were isolated as indicated for adult mice, using M-199 medium supplemented with 0.05 % FBS, 0.001 % ITS and 25 μM blebbistatin.

Explant cultures

Explants were prepared from hearts of eight-week-old TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mice, as described [34], and cultured in IMDM containing 20 % embryonic stem cell-screened FBS (Hyclone, GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Madrid, Spain), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine (37 °C, 5 % CO2).

B-CPC differentiation potential

To evaluate spontaneous endothelial/smooth muscle differentiation potential of Bmi1-CPC, cells were obtained from eight-week-old TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mouse hearts and seeded on gelatin-coated plates as above. After seven to ten days, plates were fixed with 2 % PFA in PHEM buffer (15 min, RT) and processed for immunocytochemistry. For cardiomyocyte differentiation, B-CPC cardiospheres were plated on a monolayer of NBRC or adult transgenic mouse GFP+ CM derived from the beta-actin GFP mouse strain (Jackson Laboratory). For B-CPC/adult mouse CM co-culture, we used M-199 medium, 0.05 % FBS, 0.001 % ITS and 25 μM blebbistatin. After four to five days co-culture, cells were fixed with 2 % PFA in PHEM buffer (15 min, RT) and processed for immunocytochemistry.

Bone marrow transplant

To generate bone marrow (BM) chimeras, eight to ten week-old C57BL/6 Bmi1-YFP mice were TM-induced, lethally irradiated (one dose each of 4.75 and 4.5 Gy, separated by 24 h) and then transplanted (i.v.) with 107 whole BM cells isolated age-matched C57BL/6 Act-RFP mice [35]. At two months post-TM induction (54 days after BM transplant), after confirmation of full chimerism, transplanted Bmi1-YFP mouse hearts were digested and analyzed as above.

RT-qPCR and genomic PCR analysis

RNA was extracted from hearts of eight-week-old TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mice, or from the indicated subpopulations (Bmi1-CPC and SCA-1 CPC) purified using the sorting strategy described above, with a Cells-to-CT kit (Ambion, Thermo, Madrid, Spain). RNA from ES cells was prepared as previously described [36]. Complementary DNA was obtained by reverse transcription with the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Madrid, Spain). cDNAs were analyzed by real time PCR using the Power SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems). Amplification, detection and data analysis were carried out with an ABI PRISM 7900HT Sequence Detection System. The crossing threshold values for individual mRNAs were normalized to GusB expression for mRNA. Changes in mRNA expression were denoted as the x-fold change relative to the control. (See Additional file 2: Table S2 for primers used).

We used genomic PCR to detect recombined and Rosa26-YFP alleles, with primers 5′-AAAGTCGCTCTGAGTTGTTAT, 5′-AAGACCGCGAAGAGTTTGTC and 5′-AGCTC CTCGCCCTTGCTCACCATG [17]. PCR conditions were 96 °C for 2 min to separate strands, followed by 34 amplification cycles (96 °C for 30 s, 56 °C for 30 s, 72 °C for 30 s) and a 5 min elongation step at 72 °C. The specific PCR product (320 bp) derived from the floxed allele is detected in all transgenic Bmi1-YFP and Myh6 -YFP mice, but the diagnostic fragment (550 bp) associated with the floxed-out allele is only detectable in the Myh6 -YFP CM-enriched fraction post-TM induction [37].

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with Prism 5.0 (GraphPad Software). Significance between groups was evaluated in all experiments as detailed in the figures. A value of P < 0.05 was considered significant. All replicates considered are biological replicates.

Results and Discussion

Murine SCA-1+ CPC population expresses Bmi1 at similar levels to embryonic stem cells

We hypothesized that adult cardiac progenitors would show high Bmi1 expression, as it has been previously defined in other adult stem cell systems [21–29, 38]. The cardiac SCA-1+ population (SCA-1+ CPC) contains cardiac progenitor cells [10]. We initially compared expression of Bmi1 and other stemness-related genes in SCA-1+ CPC and embryonic stem cells (ES), and found low but comparable Bmi1 levels in both populations (see Additional file 3: Figure S1A). Bmi1 expression in these cells was also very sensitive to oxygen culture conditions and passage number (see Additional file 3: Figure S1B). These preliminary studies confirmed Bmi1 expression in SCA-1+ CPC at levels comparable to ES, and established culture conditions appropriate for maintenance of Bmi1 expression. We therefore studied whether Bmi1 levels corresponded to the entire SCA-1+ CPC population or whether defined subpopulations were associated with its expression.

High Bmi1 expression defines a self-maintained population in the adult mouse heart

To evaluate the role of Bmi1 in the biology of cardiac progenitor cells in vivo, we conducted a lineage tracing analysis in mice expressing TM-inducible Cre driven by the Bmi1 locus [23, 24]. Cre-mediated recombination in Bmi1 CreER/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ (six to eight week-old) double heterozygous mice (Bmi1-YFP mice; Fig. 1a) was induced by TM administration. After enzyme digestion of the heart, non-myocyte cell compartment was separated and analyzed by FACS (see Methods). Flow cytometry of non-cardiomyocyte cells at five days post-TM induction (5d-postTM) identified a YFP+ population (Bmi1-expressing cells) (2.7 ± 0.2 %; 7.9 x 104 ± 5.9 x 103 YFP+ cells/heart; Fig. 1b) that was not detected in age-matched non-induced controls (Bmi1-YFPNI) or induced Rosa26 YFP/+ mice (Fig. 1b, inset). Immunofluorescence analysis of freshly sorted YFP+ cells confirmed co-expression with BMI1 and SCA-1 (Fig. 1c).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Characterization and evolution of B-CPC throughout Bmi1-YFP mouse lifespan. a Generation of Bmi1 CreER/+;Rosa26 YFP/+ (Bmi1-YFP) mice. b Detection of the YFP+ fraction (2.7 ± 0.2%, n = 21) of freshly isolated mononuclear non-cardiomyocyte heart cells from Bmi1-YFP mice, analyzed five days post TM induction (5d-postTM); inset, Bmi1-YFPNI (non-induced) and TM-induced Rosa26 YFP/+ negative controls. Data shown as mean ± SEM. PE, phycoerythrin. c Immunofluorescence analysis of BMI1 and SCA-1 in freshly isolated YFP+ cells. Bars, 50 μm. d The B-CPC population is a subset of the SCA-1+ population (5.4 ± 0.4 %, n = 18). The plots show from (left to right and top up to bottom) the YFP+ fraction of Bmi1-YFP hearts 5d-postTM, the negative control from SCA-1 staining in the non-CM fraction, staining for SCA-1, and the fraction of the YFP+ SCA-1+ population. Data represented as mean ± SEM. PE, phycoerythrin, SSC, side scatter. e RT-qPCR of freshly sorted Bmi1 + (YFP+) and SCA-1+ YFP− cells (n = three replicates; two to three mice per replicate). Data shown as mean ± SD. P values were calculated by paired Student’s t-test. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. f Analysis of the YFP+ compartment in Bmi1-YFP mice at one year post-TM induction (1y-postTM) (left) (5.8 ± 0.74 %) and analysis of B-CPC (YFP+) in one-year-old mice 5d-postTM (right) (2.2 ± 0.22 %). PE, phycoerythrin, SSC, side scatter. g YFP+ cell number at 5d-postTM in young mice (two-month-old; n = 15), in mice 1y-postTM induction at six to eight weeks of age (n = 4), and in one-year-old mice at 5d-postTM (n = 7). Data shown as mean ± SEM. P values were calculated by unpaired Student’s t-test with Welch’s correction, compared to 5d-postTM young mice. * P < 0.05, *** P < 0.0001

Full size image

We used flow cytometry to characterize non-CM YFP+ cells derived from Bmi1-YFP hearts at 5d-postTM (see Additional file 4: Figure S2A); most were SCA-1+ (95.9 ± 0.4 %, n = 16), although they made up only 5.4 ± 0.4 % of the total SCA-1+ population (Fig. 1d). These non-CM YFP+ cells were mainly CD45− (<1 %) and c-KIT− (<0.5 %) but CD31+ (94 %) (see Additional file 4: Figure S2A). We used RT-qPCR to compare the gene expression profile of the sorted YFP+ population with that of the closely related SCA-1+ YFP− cardiac population (S-YFP−). The YFP+ population showed higher expression of stemness-associated genes and transcripts related to muscle contractility (Fig. 1e). These results suggest that Bmi1 + cells are probably a heterogeneous population, we cannot currently distinguish whether this heterogeneity is due to non-progenitor cells or to different progenitor populations.

Analysis of the YFP+ compartment (the progeny of Bmi1 + cells) at one-year post-TM induction showed that this population increased during this period (2 x 104 ± 4 x 103 cells/heart; Fig. 1f, g), with an expression profile similar to that of 5d-postTM cells (see Additional file 4: Figure S2B). Analysis after conventional TM induction (5d-postTM) of aged (one-year-old) mice showed the presence of the YFP+ population (Fig. 1f, g).

These results suggest that the Bmi1 + non-myocyte population (B-CPC) is maintained throughout the mouse lifespan and is apparently not in equilibrium with more primitive precursors that would dilute initial labeling.

B-CPC spatial distribution and differentiation potential

To locate Bmi1 + cells in mouse heart, we used mainly a Bmi1-YFP transgenic model and complemented the study with Bmi1-tomato mice for additional information. GFP immunostaining from 5d-postTM Bmi1-YFP hearts showed broad YFP distribution not observed in negative controls (Fig. 2a). B-CPC cells were located in variable-sized clusters of compact cells with cramped nuclei (Fig. 2b) scattered throughout heart sections, with preferential perivascular (Fig. 2c) and inter-sarcomeric localization (Fig. 2d). We found broad distribution of B-CPC cells both in atria and ventricles (see Additional file 5: Figure S3). GFP immunostaining of cardiac explants [39] from 5d-postTM Bmi1-YFP mice showed that a large proportion of the bright, rounded cells that migrated on the fibroblast-like layer were YFP+. In orthogonal projections, the rounded BMI1+ cells selectively occupied the upper layer (see Additional file 6: Figure S4A). Like their freshly sorted counterparts 5d-postTM, explanted YFP+ cells expressed BMI1 (see Additional file 6: Figure S4B). This result suggests that Bmi1 + cells are related to previously reported populations now being evaluated in clinical trials [40, 41].

Fig. 2
figure 2

B-CPC tissue distribution and in vitro differentiation capacity. a Specific GFP immunohistochemistry of negative control heart section; Bmi1-YFPNI or TM-induced Rosa26 YFP/+ mice showed no specific staining. Bar, 200 μm. b YFP labels highly packed niche-like structures (NLS) in the myocardium wall of Bmi1-YFP heart 5d-postTM induction. Bar, 20 μm. c, d These niche-like structures are widely distributed throughout the organ and show preferential perivascular (arrowheads) (c) and intersarcomeric (d) localization. Bar in (c), 50 μm. Bars in (d), 100 μm (left), 200 μm (right). e Representative images showing in vitro vascular differentiation of sorted YFP+ cultures, which contain cells positive for VE-cadherin (left) and SMA (smooth muscle actin) (right); DAPI, blue. Bars, 200 μm. f YFP+ cells co-cultured in vitro for four to five days with neonatal rat CM differentiate to the cardiomyocyte lineage, and co-localize with sarcomeric α-actinin (SαA); the orthogonal projection is shown (right composite panel). Arrowheads show the differentiated YFP+ cells. Bars, 50 μm. g Bmi1-tomato+ cells co-cultured in vitro with adult GFP-CM from β-actin GFP mice begin to express SαA (white). Images (left) show a tomato+ cell (arrowhead) expressing SαA next to a GFP+ CM. Images (right) show two tomato+ cells (no GFP+ CM on the picture), one of which expresses SαA (arrowhead). Bars, 20 μm. B-CPC Bmi1-expressing cardiac progenitor cells, YFP yellow fluorescent protein, TM tamoxifen, VE vascular endothelial, CM cardiomyocytes, SαA sarcomeric α-actinin

Full size image

Cardiac progenitor cells are able to differentiate to the main heart lineages. Although several methods have been tested for in vitro differentiation, results for terminal differentiation with sarcomeric structure and beating cardiomyocytes are poor [17, 42, 43]. We examined the differentiation potential of B-CPC in vitro, based on our previous work with SCA-1+ CPC [44]. Only a small percentage of sorted YFP+ B-CPC developed sporadic microvascular networks composed of VE (vascular endothelial)-cadherin+ and SMA+ (smooth muscle actin) cells (Fig. 2e), indicating that although B-CPC initially express CD31, they are not committed to the vascular lineage. It has been reported that hematopoietic stem cells, in different stages of development, or cardiac progenitor cells are characterized by the expression of endothelial markers, such as CD31 and Tie2 [19, 40, 45]. Moreover, CD34 expression has been found in various stem cell systems [46]. These findings indicate that these proteins have various cellular functions and are not restricted to mature endothelium [47].

Co-culture of neonatal rat CM with B-CPC (Bmi1-YFP mice) promoted their cardiac differentiation, with co-expression of sarcomeric α-actinin (SαA) and YFP (Fig. 2f). Although the frequency of mononucleated YFP+ cells that co-stained for SαA was low, orthogonal projection of these cells confirmed co-expression (Fig. 2f, right). Results were similar when we co-cultured B-CPC (Bmi1-tomato mice) with adult mouse GFP+ CM (β-actin GFP mice) to discard fusion events. Although we did not detect marked mature differentiation, some tomato+ cells initiated a SαA expression and CM transition program without fusion, detectable by double GFP+tomato+ staining (Fig. 2g). These data suggest that the B-CPC population contains progenitors able to contribute all three main heart lineages.

B-CPC contribute to adult cardiomyocyte turnover

To assess the role of B-CPC in homeostatic conditions, we traced YFP+ cells in the adult heart throughout the TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mouse lifetime (Fig. 3a). Immunohistochemical analysis of Bmi1-YFP heart sections from 2 to 12 months post-TM administration showed YFP+ CM, which co-localized with SαA staining (Fig. 3b). To confirm these results and further evaluate the appearance of YFP+ CM, we isolated and plated the enriched CM fraction for dual analysis by flow cytometry and immunostaining.

Fig. 3
figure 3

In vivo contribution of B-CPC to homeostasis in the adult mammalian heart. a Timeline for B-CPC and progeny analysis. b Immunohistochemistry of mature YFP+ SαA-positive CM surrounded by laminin, at 6 (n = 2) and 12 months (n = 2) post-TM induction, were scattered throughout the heart. Bars, 20 μm (left), 50 μm (right). c-f Flow cytometry of total adult CM from (c) Bmi1-YFPNI (n = 3), (d) Bmi1-YFP 5d-postTM (n = 8), (e) Bmi1-YFP at two months (n = 5) and (f) Bmi1-YFP mice one year post-TM induction (n = 6). g Expression of contractility proteins in YFP+ and YFP− CM; SαA, tropomyosin (TPM) and connexin 43 (CX43). Bars, 50 μm. h Number of YFP+ CM, measured by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry, increases from 2 to 12 months post-TM induction, 3 ± 0.6 % at 2 months (2m; n = 7), 3.8 ± 0.7 % at 6 months (6m; n = 3) and 6.7 ± 2 % at 12 months (12m; n = 9). Data shown as mean ± SEM. P value was calculated by unpaired Student’s t-test with Welch’s correction. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. i Analysis of ploidy in freshly plated adult CM. To count, plated CM were immunostained with YFP and SαA antibodies and scored for DAPI-stained nuclei. A mean of 1,000 CM were scored for each mouse (n = 6). Data shown as mean ± SEM. B-CPC Bmi1-expressing cardiac progenitor cells, YFP yellow fluorescent protein, SαA sarcomeric α-ctinin, CM cardiomyocytes, TM tamoxifen

Full size image

No YFP expression was detected in the CM-enriched population shortly after induction (5d-postTM), either by cytometry (<1 YFP+ CM in 1.35 x 105 total cardiomyocytes or < 0.0022 ± 0.0016 %) (Fig. 3d) or in plated preparations (Fig. 4). To confirm the specific Bmi1 expression in the YFP+ sorted fraction 5d-postTM and not in the CM compartment, we performed RT-qPCR analysis, which showed preferential Bmi1 expression mainly in the YFP+ non-CM fraction (>15-fold; see Additional file 7: Figure S5A, top). No BMI1 protein expression was detected by western blot in the sorted YFP− non-CM compartment or in the enriched CM fraction (see Additional file 7: Figure S5A, bottom). To further confirm the lack of Rosa26 locus recombination in CM after TM induction, we isolated the CM-enriched fraction from Bmi1-YFP mice 5d-postTM, and analyzed the structure of the transgenic Rosa26 locus by PCR. There was no detectable recombination in the CM-enriched fraction from Bmi1-YFP mice compared with positive and negative controls (see Additional file 7: Figure S5B).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Contribution of YFP+ cardiomyocytes to heart homeostasis. a-c Immunofluorescence of freshly-isolated CM from Bmi1-YFP mice TM-induced at six to eight weeks of age, throughout mouse lifetime at days (5d), 2 months (2m), 6 months (6m) and 12 months (12m) post-TM induction. SαA in red (a), anti-YFP staining in green (b) and CM at higher magnification (c); DAPI, blue. Bars in (a), (b), 1,000 μm; (c), 200 μm. d LacZ+ CM in adult Bmi1-LacZ mice 5 days (n = 4), 2m (n = 2) and 6m (n = 2) post-TM induction. Bars, 200 μm. Data shown as mean ± SEM. YFP yellow fluorescent protein, CM cardiomyocytes, TM tamoxifen, SαA sarcomeric α-actinin

Full size image

In addition, we analyzed Cre expression by immunocytochemistry in plated CM; no Cre expression was detected in the enriched CM fraction of Bmi1-YFP mice compared to the CM fractions of Myh6-YFP or WT mice (see Additional file 7: Figure S5C). This result strongly suggests that the cardiac Bmi1-expressing fraction does not include a minor subpopulation of adult CM with specific dedifferentiation/proliferation potential [6]. Given the wide variety of Bmi1 functions, we cannot currently rule out Bmi1 expression in intermediate progenitors or trace levels in differentiated cells. The Bmi1CreERT construct is an inducible transgenic model in which a specific Cre expression threshold is necessary to trigger Rosa26 locus recombination [48]. Although we cannot completely exclude basal Bmi1 expression in CM, we confirmed that the lineage-tracing results were not due to ectopic Cre expression by CM.

Flow cytometry analysis of CM from Bmi1-YFP hearts at 2 to 12 months showed the presence of YFP+ CM (Fig. 3e, f), as confirmed by immunocytochemistry of plated CM (Fig. 4a-c). YFP+ and YFP− CM showed no relevant differences in expression of the contractility proteins tropomyosin and SαA or of CX43 (Fig. 3g), or in contractility or transient Ca2+ efflux (see Additional file 8: Figure S6). The proportion of YFP+ CM increased over the analysis period (2–12 months) from 3 ± 0.6 % to 6.5 ± 1.3 % (Fig. 3h), with the same nucleation pattern as the YFP− CM (Fig. 3i), which are mainly binucleated (80 %). We also observed clear YFP staining within vessels that co-localized with von Willebrand factor (vWF) or CD31 in cells lining the vessel lumen (Fig. 5a) as well as with SMA (Fig. 5b), which suggest a contribution to endothelial and smooth muscle lineages.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Differentiation to smooth muscle and endothelial lineages. a Confocal microscopy of differentiated Bmi1-tomato+-derived cells expressing von Willebrand factor (vWF, top left, white arrowhead) or differentiated Bmi1-YFP+-derived cells expressing CD31 (top right; bottom, red arrowheads) lining the vessel lumen; tomato+/YFP+ cells at the luminal surface of vessels during endothelial differentiation co-localize with vWF or CD31 (arrowheads). Bars, 100 μm (top left), 20 μm (top right), 50 μm (bottom). b Vascular differentiation of Bmi1-expressing cells to the smooth muscle lineage; arrowheads highlight tomato co-localization with SMA. Bars, 100 μm. YFP yellow fluorescent protein, SMA smooth muscle actin

Full size image

To validate these results independently, we examined the Rosa26LacZ reporter mice. Xgal staining of freshly isolated CM from adult hearts confirmed lack of leakage in non-induced Bmi1-LacZ and a very low level (<0.011 ± 0.007 %) in 5d-postTM induced Bmi1-LacZ mice (Fig. 4d). As for Bmi1-YFP reporter mice, we detected LacZ+ cells in clusters between sarcomeres and in perivascular locations (see Additional file 9: Figure S7). The number of β − gal+ CM detected in the course of the experiment was similar to that for YFP reporter mice at two and 6six months post-TM induction (3.45 ± 0.35 % and 6.45 ± 1.11 %), respectively (Fig. 4d).

YFP+ CM do not derive from Bone Marrow Bmi1 + cells

Given that Bmi1-Cre locus activation in Bmi1-YFP mouse is not heart-specific [23, 24] and that bone marrow (BM) cells are reported to contribute with de novo CM in heart regeneration [49], we evaluated the potential contribution of BM-derived cell populations to de novo CM formation. We transplanted BM from Act-mRFP into Bmi1-YFP mice (chimeras) (Fig. 6a); recipients were sacrificed two months post-transplant, hearts were dissociated and analyzed by FACS. No YFP+ or RFP+ cells were detected in non-induced Bmi1-YFP mice (Fig. 6b). Two months after BM transplant, non-CM cells from TM-induced chimeric heart confirmed the presence of YFP+ (3.53 ± 0.87 %) and mRFP+ cells (45.5 ± 15 %) (Fig. 6c). Analysis of heart non-CM cells from transplanted Bmi1-YFP mice showed a minimal contribution of SCA-1+CD45− cells, estimated at < 0.26 ± 0.06 % (Fig. 6d, e).

Fig. 6
figure 6

Evaluation of extracardiac Bmi1 + cells for de novo YFP+ CM generation. a Scheme for BM (RFP+) transplant into a lethally irradiated, TM-induced Bmi1-YFP mouse. b-e FACS analysis of the non-CM fraction of Bmi1-YFP mice after BM transplant (n = 3). b No YFP+ or RFP+ heart cells were detected in non-induced Bmi1-YFP mice. c FACS analysis of induced chimeric Bmi1-YFP hearts two months post-BM transplant confirmed the presence of YFP+ (3.53 ± 0.87 %) and RFP+ cells (45.5 ± 15 %). d Negative control for SCA-1 and CD45 staining of the non-CM fraction of Bmi1-YFP hearts (left) and percentage of SCA-1+CD45− cells after the staining (20 ± 3.74 %; right). e Percentage of SCA-1+CD45− in RFP+ cells in the non-CM fraction of chimeric Bmi1-YFP hearts two months post-transplant (0.26 ± 0.06 %). (f-h) FACS and ICC of the CM compartment of chimeric Bmi1-YFP mice two months post-transplant (n = 3). f No RFP or YFP expression was detected in Bmi1-YFP CM analyzed by FACS 5d-postTM (left). RFP+ CM from Act-RFP mice (right). g No RFP+ CM were detected in chimeric Bmi1-YFP mice two months post-transplant. h ICC of chimeric Bmi1-YFP CM two months post-transplant. Bars, 100 μm. Data shown as mean ± SD. YFP yellow fluorescent protein, CM cardiomyocytes, FACS fluorescence-activated cell sorting

Full size image

Analysis of CM-enriched fractions of Bmi1-YFP chimera heart showed YFP+ CM, with no mRFP+ CM at two months post-transplant (Fig. 6f-h) compared to CM preparations from Act-mRFP control mice (Fig. 6f). These results were confirmed by immunocytochemistry in plated CM (Fig. 6h). We observed no fused cells (orange) in CM from chimeric Bmi1-YFP hearts (Fig. 6h). The results suggest that, as for other putative cardiac stem cells [18, 50], BM-derived cells do not contribute notably to the B-CPC population, either directly or after fusion with resident non-CM cells.

B-CPC in the general context of cardiac repair and cardiomyocyte turnover

Cardiac progenitors are routinely isolated based on expression of the stem cell hematopoietic marker SCA-1 [9], although SCA-1 appears to label a heterogeneous population with predominantly endothelial potential [16, 50]. Genetic deletion of Sca-1 showed that resident CPC do not respond efficiently to pathological damage in vivo, consistent with the impaired growth and survival of cardiac progenitor cells in vitro [50]. Sca-1 labels a non-CM population in heart that contributes to CM generation during homeostasis (4.55 ± 0.87 %) [16]. The SCA-1+ CPC contribution to the repair process is only found after ischemic damage and pressure overload, but not after acute myocardial infarction. Finally, using the Rosa26-Confetti reporter mouse strain, the authors propose limited expansion of Sca1-derived clones and limited pluripotential capacity, which suggests that only a small Sca-1 + cell subset differentiates into the CM lineage [16]. It is tempting to consider that Bmi1-CPC, which make up 5.4 ± 0.4 % of SCA-1+ CPC, are related to this proposed subset.

Malliaras et al. described a transient amplifying cell population, termed cardioblasts (CdB). These cells are defined by expression of SCA-1 and mature cardiac markers such as Myh6 or SαA but c-KIT−, and have multipotent properties. CdB are activated and increase in an experimental model of cardiac injury (AMI). The fact that CdB are a SCA-1+ subset, combined with the similarity to our results, strongly suggests partial overlap between these subpopulations. Further studies are needed to fully understand this question.

The classical endothelial marker Tie-1 was recently reported to define a cardiac progenitor population [19]. These cells (c-KITlow) generate 70 % of SCA-1+ intermediate perivascular progenitors and contribute to homeostatic CM turnover. Our Bmi1-CPC RNA expression profile (unpublished results) showed moderate expression of Tie-1 and other endothelial driver constructs used by the authors for confirmation [19], as well as high CD31 levels (see Additional file 4: Figure S2A). These data suggest a functional relationship between the two populations. Specific research will be needed to explore the interplay between both populations and their role in the adult endothelium.

All of these cardiac progenitor populations, linked by SCA-1 expression, show partially overlapping similarities with Bmi1-CPC. The apparent discrepancies in cardiac progenitor identity and responses nonetheless remain to be resolved. Some of the cardiac stem-like populations identified might represent distinct developmental or physiological stages of a single resident stem cell population [51].

Our lineage tracing analysis shows that high Bmi1 expression in the adult heart labels a resident population that contributes to CM turnover, suggesting a role for Bmi1 in heart turnover. Pulsed Bmi1 + cells remained in adult mouse heart for over one year (currently observed to two years of age; not shown), although they appear to decline in aged mice (two- years-old), and probably become more senescent. Gene expression, combined with the non-drastic dilution of the label over this period, implies intrinsic self-maintenance with no apparent contribution of more primitive or extracardiac progenitors to de novo CM formation [52, 53] and our findings here.

A number of studies have attempted to identify a cardiac non-stem cell source for adult cardiomyocyte replacement, suggesting that adult CM dedifferentiate and proliferate to give rise to de novo CM [6, 7]. In our experimental model using the αMHC promoter, we confirmed that at 5d-postTM, a large proportion of CM are labeled (see Additional file 7: Figure S5B,C). This temporal window is also sufficient to ensure clearance of TM, given its estimated 6 h half-life in the mouse, which rules out long-term TM effects [54]. In contrast, in our Bmi1-YFP mouse model, we found no indication of Cre expression or activity in the CM population at 5d-postTM. Although we cannot currently exclude additional sources of heart turnover from other stem cell-like populations or a possible functional connection between putative differentiation of rare Bmi1 + CM, our results support the idea that Bmi1 + non-myocyte cells (B-CPC) contribute to homeostatic cardiomyocyte turnover in the mammalian adult heart.

Conclusions

Bmi1 + non-CM cells (B-CPC) form a small fraction of the SCA-1 population; they express high levels of stemness and cardiac lineage specification markers, contribute to the main heart lineages in vitro, and are capable of in vivo self-maintenance. B-CPC is likely to be a heterogeneous population that contains progenitor cells; further studies are needed for a better understanding of the population and its specific subpopulations. Improved characterization of the biology of these cells will help to define in vivo hallmarks as well as potential ontogenic relationships with other adult cardiac progenitor-like populations and to identify the factors needed to harness their potential for effective cardiac cell therapy.

Abbreviations

Act-mRFP:

Mouse strain that expresses mRFP under the control of the actin promoter

AMI:

Acute myocardial infarction

B-CPC:

Bmi1-expressing cardiac progenitor cells

BMI1:

B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1

BrdU:

5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine

CM:

Cardiomyocytes

CPC:

Cardiac progenitor cells

Cre-ER:

Variant of the site-specific (loxP) recombinase Cre that binds to the estrogen receptor module (ER)

CSC:

Cardiac stem cells

ES:

Mouse embryonic stem cells (R1)

FACS:

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting

Fluo-4:

AM Non-fluorescent acetoxymethyl ester

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

i.p.:

Intraperitoneal

LacZ:

Lac Z gene that encodes the Escherichia coli β-galactosidase

mRFP:

Murine red fluorescent protein

NBRCs:

Newborn rat cardiomyocytes

Rosa26:

Mouse locus used for constitutive, ubiquitous gene expression

RT-qPCR:

Reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction

SCA-1:

Stem cell antigen-1

SM:

Smooth muscle

SMA:

Smooth muscle actin

TM:

Tamoxifen

YFP:

Yellow fluorescent protein

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank M. Torres, J.M. Pérez-Pomares and B.G. Gálvez for critical discussions of the manuscript, A.M. Santos for assistance with confocal microscopy and dynamic imaging, R.M. Carmona for help with the animal colony management, F.S. Cabo for bioinformatics and statistical support, J.M Ligos for the sorting strategy, and K. McCreath and C. Mark for editorial support. This study was supported by grants to A.B. from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2012-34327; PLE2009-0147 and PSE-010000-2009-3), the Research Program of the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (S2010/BMD-2420), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RETICS-RD12/0019/0018 and RETICS-RD12/0019/0023) and the European Commission (Proposal 242038). The CNB-CSIC and CNIC are supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Cardiovascular Development and Repair Department, Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center (CNIC), Madrid, Spain

      Iñigo Valiente-Alandi, Carmen Albo-Castellanos, Diego Herrero & Antonio Bernad

    2. The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

      Iñigo Valiente-Alandi

    3. Vivebiotech, San Sebastian, Spain

      Carmen Albo-Castellanos

    4. Immunology and Oncology Department, Spanish National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain

      Diego Herrero & Antonio Bernad

    5. Microscopy Unit, Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center (CNIC), Madrid, Spain

      Elvira Arza

    6. Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT)- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain

      Maria Garcia-Gomez & José C. Segovia

    7. Advanced Therapies Mixed Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain

      Maria Garcia-Gomez & José C. Segovia

    8. Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

      Mario Capecchi

    Authors
    1. Iñigo Valiente-Alandi
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    2. Carmen Albo-Castellanos
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    3. Diego Herrero
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    4. Elvira Arza
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    5. Maria Garcia-Gomez
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    6. José C. Segovia
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    7. Mario Capecchi
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    8. Antonio Bernad
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Antonio Bernad.

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    Competing interests

    The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

    Authors’ contributions

    IVA and CAC conceived, performed and designed experiments, developed the project, contributed ideas and wrote the manuscript. DH performed and designed experiments and revised the manuscript. EA contributed to microscopy experiments and revised the manuscript. MGG and JCS performed bone marrow transplants and revised the manuscript. MC provided the Bmi1Cre transgenic line, developed the project and revised the manuscript. AB conceived and developed the project, designed experiments, interpreted results and wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

    Iñigo Valiente-Alandi and Carmen Albo-Castellanos contributed equally to this work.

    Additional files

    Additional file 1: Table S1.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Antibodies used in immunodetection. Antibodies used in this study. (JPEG 292 kb)

    Additional file 2: Table S2.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Primers used in genomic PCR and qRT-PCR. Primers used in this study. (JPEG 393 kb)

    Additional file 3: Figure S1.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Partial comparative expression profile of Bmi1 in SCA-1+ CPC and ES. Comparative Bmi1 expression and other stemness-related genes in SCA-1+ CPC and embryonic stem cells (ES). Bmi1 expression response to oxygen culture conditions and passage number. (JPEG 843 kb)

    Additional file 4: Figure S2.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Flow cytometry analysis in B-CPC throughout mouse lifespan. Flow cytometry characterization of non-CM YFP+ cells derived from Bmi1-YFP hearts at 5d-postTM and 1y-postTM. (JPEG 926 kb)

    Additional file 5: Figure S3.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Representative immunohistology image from Bmi1-tomato mice heart 5d-postTM induction with high tomato background. Distribution of B-CPC cells both in atria and ventricles at 5d-postTM. (JPEG 429 kb)

    Additional file 6: Figure S4.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Cardiac explant model. GFP immunostaining of cardiac explants from 5d-postTM Bmi1-YFP mice. (JPEG 860 kb)

    Additional file 7: Figure S5.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Bmi1 expression and Cre enzyme activity in murine Bmi1-YFP hearts. Bmi1 expression in YFP+ non-CM, YFP- non-CM and CM compartments 5d-postTM and Cre enzyme activity in the CM-enriched-fraction from bitransgenic non-induced controls Bmi1-YFPNI, Bmi1-YFP 5d-postTM and positive control Myh6-YFP mice 5d-postTM. (JPEG 728 kb)

    Additional file 8: Figure S6.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. Calcium transients in freshly isolated YFP+ and YFP- adult CM provide evidence of functional coupling. Contractility and transient Ca2+ efflux of freshly isolated YFP+ and YFP- adult CM. (JPEG 513 kb)

    Additional file 9: Figure S7.

    Valiente-Alandi.jpg. X-Gal-stained heart tissue of Bmi1-lacZ mice 5d-postTM. X-Gal staining showed LacZ+ cells in clusters between sarcomeres and in perivascular locations. (JPEG 546 kb)

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    Valiente-Alandi, I., Albo-Castellanos, C., Herrero, D. et al. Cardiac Bmi1 + cells contribute to myocardial renewal in the murine adult heart. Stem Cell Res Ther 6, 205 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-015-0196-9

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-015-0196-9

    Keywords

    Stem Cell Research & Therapy

    ISSN: 1757-6512