[Adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells transfected with the gene of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 2 differentiated into pacemaker-like cells].

Objective: To transfect rat adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells (ADSCs) with the pacemaker gene of human hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 2 (hHCN2), and observe its feasibility of functioning as pacemaker cells.

Methods: First of all, healthy ADSCs were harvested and transfected with hHCN2 gene. Thereafter, we detected the expression of hHCN2 gene and protein by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence cytochemistry and measured the electrophysiological properties and recorded the inward currents using patch clamp techniques.