Identification of Myocardial Telocytes and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mice

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the morphology, immune phenotype, and cytokine profiles between myocardial telocytes (TCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and explore the difference between those two types of interstitial cells. METHODS: TCs and MSCs were cultured in vitro and cell morphology was observed with a light microscope. The expression levels of CD34, c-kit, and vimentin were detected by immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting in both TCs and MSCs. The related supernatant was collected and total of 49 cytokine profiles were detected by RayBio Mice Cytokine Antibody Array. Significantly different cytokines were further confirmed by ELISA. RESULTS: TCs have small cellular body and very long prolongations and they were CD34(+)/c-kit(+)/vimentin(+), whereas MSCs have no telopodes and they were CD34(–)/c-kit(–) /vimentin(+). Cytokine profile analysis and ELISA showed that 19 of 49 cytokines were increased dramatically in the supernatant of TCs compared with those of MSCs. Moreover, 9 of 19 cytokines were increased 2-fold at least in the supernatant of TCs compared with those of MSCs. Of 49 cytokines, 30 exhibited no significant changes in the supernatant of TCs compared with those of MSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Using various technologies, we identified that myocardial TCs and MSCs are significantly different in terms of cell structure and cytokine profiles.