Myosin light chain 2-based selection of human iPSC-derived early ventricular cardiac myocytes.

Applications of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived-cardiac myocytes (hiPSC-CMs) would be strengthened by the ability to generate specific cardiac myocyte (CM) lineages. However, purification of lineage-specific hiPSC-CMs is limited by the lack of cell marking techniques. Here, we have developed an iPSC-CM marking system using recombinant adenoviral reporter constructs with atrial- or ventricular-specific myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2) promoters.

Factor VLeiden inhibits fibrinolysis in vivo.

Background: Factor V(Leiden) (fV(Leiden)) predisposes to thrombosis by enhancing thrombin formation. This study tested the hypothesis that fV(Leiden) inhibits fibrinolysis in vivo.

Methods And Results: Radiolabeled clots were injected into the jugular veins of wild-type mice and mice heterozygous (fV(+/Q)) or homozygous (fV(Q/Q)) for fV(Leiden).

Chronic iron administration increases vascular oxidative stress and accelerates arterial thrombosis.

Background: Iron overload has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic cardiovascular events. However, the effects of iron excess on vascular function and the thrombotic response to vascular injury are not well understood.

Methods And Results: We examined the effects of chronic iron dextran administration (15 mg over 6 weeks) on thrombosis, systemic and vascular oxidative stress, and endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity in mice.

Structure-function analysis of the streptokinase amino terminus (residues 1-59).

Streptokinase (SK) binds to plasminogen (Pg) to form a complex that converts substrate Pg to plasmin. Residues 1-59 of SK regulate its capacity to induce an active site in bound Pg by a nonproteolytic mechanism and to activate substrate Pg in a fibrin-independent manner. We analyzed 24 SK mutants to better define the functional properties of SK-(1-59).