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C‐kit+ cardiac precursor cells exhibit a unique oxidant and antioxidant gene expression profile

Evidence suggests that there are small populations of stem cells residing in the postnatal heart, and perhaps in the adult myocardium. Research from our laboratory demonstrates that c‐kit+ cells isolated from the hearts of c‐kitBAC‐EGFP mice can be expanded and differentiated in vitro into all three lineages of the heart. Since redox mechanisms play critical roles within stem cell niches, and also have distinct roles in cell signaling and death, we hypothesized that c‐kit+ cells exhibit a unique redox profile compared to control cardiomyocytes. Utilizing RT2Profiler PCR Arrays to investigate mRNA expression of 84 genes involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense, we found that 23 genes were upregulated and 4 genes were downregulated in c‐kit+ cells compared to controls. Upregulated genes included two superoxide dismutase isoforms (Sod1, Sod2), four members of the peroxiredoxin family (Prdx2, Prdx3, Prdx5, Prdx6), and myoglobin. The four downregulated genes included the third member of the Sod family (Sod3) along with apolipoprotein E, cytoglobin, and neutrophil cytosolic factor 2. Fold changes were considered significant at above 2‐fold and p<.05. These data reveal a unique redox profile in c‐kit+ cells, and may provide targets for improving survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation of these cells in vitro and, eventually, following cardiac damage in vivo.