Synergistic effects of apelin on hESC cardiac gene expression using Combined Protocol A.

<p>(A) Down-regulation of Mesp-1 is observed in all 4 protocols, (B) Nkx2.5 (an early cardiac transcriptional factor, indicative of cardiac progenitor phenotype) is up-regulated in the combined protocol A at day 16, (C) cTNT (cardiac troponin T, a muscle contractility regulatory protein, indicative of a mature cardiac phenotype) is up-regulated in the combined protocol A at day 16, (D) ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide, a protein peptide secreted by mature cardiomyocyte, indicative of a mature cardiac phenotype) is up-regulated after day 16, (E) MHC (myosin heavy chain, a muscular motor protein, indicative of a mature cardiac phenotype) is up-regulated at day 32, and (F) MLC (myosin light chain, a muscular motor protein, indicative of a mature cardiac phenotype) is up-regulated over time for all groups (*p<0.05 Combined Protocol A vs. other treatment groups).