Le(X) structure enhances myocardial differentiation from embryonic stem cells

alpha-1,3-Fucosyltransferase (Fuc T IV) cDNA was placed under the control of beta-actin, cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter and transfected into embryonic stem cells. The transfected cell clones with integrated cDNA (positive clones) differentiated more efficiently into myocardial cells than the clones without integrated cDNA (negative clones) or parental cells. Furthermore, myocardial cells differentiated from the positive clones survived longer than those differentiated from the negative clones or parental cells. These results indicate that Lewis X structure, the product of Fuc T IV, enhances myocardial differentiation. The mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed in relation to integrin action.