Effect of individual transcription factors on expression of cardiac differentiation markers in human CPCs.

<p>Transcription factors (<i>Gata4</i> [G], <i>MEF2C</i> [M], <i>NKX2</i>.<i>5</i> [N], and <i>TBX5</i> [T]) were introduced to c-kit+ and lin- human CPCs via lentivirus-mediated gene delivery. Cells were then cultured for 1 or 2 weeks. At each time point, cells were harvested, and relative changes in mRNA levels of indicated genes were measured using quantitative RT-PCR. The level of indicated transcript in each group was compared to that of mCherry (mCh)-expressing control group, and is expressed as a relative fold change. For each condition, <i>n</i> = 4. Bar graphs show mean ± SEM. *, <i>p</i> < 0.05. †, not detected.