Overexpression of GATA binding protein 4 and myocyte enhancer factor 2C induces differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac-like cells

Figure 5 Cardiac-specific protein expression in transfected human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. A: Fluorescence images showing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) transfected with GATA binding protein 4 (GATA-4) and myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), separately and in combination, in comparison to the control cells (scale bar: 50 μm); B: Bar diagrams showing quantification of positive cells using ImageJ software. Also shown is the comparison between the individual and combination groups. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (n = 5). Differences between groups are considered statistically significant where ^aP < 0.05 and ^cP < 0.001. GATA-4: GATA binding protein 4; MEF2C: Myocyte enhancer factor 2C; CTnT: Cardiac troponin T; NKX2.5: NK2 homeobox 5; NS: Not significant.