Voltage-dependent Na+ channel phenotype changes in myoblasts. Consequences for cardiac repair*

摘要

Objective Cellular cardiomyoplasty using skeletal myoblasts is a promising therapy for myocardial infarct repair. Once transplanted, myoblasts grow, differentiate and adapt their electrophysiological properties towards more cardiac-like phenotypes. Voltage-dependent Na+ channels (Na_v) are the main proteins involved in the propagation of the cardiac action potential, and their phenotype affects cardiac performance. Therefore, we examined the expression of Na_v during proliferation and differentiation in skeletal myocytes.