Lack of Laminin gamma 1 in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Causes Inhomogeneous Electrical Spreading Despite Intact Differentiation and Function

Laminins form a large family of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and their expression is a prerequisite for normal embryonic development. Herein we investigated the role of the laminin gamma 1 chain for cardiac muscle differentiation and function using cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells deficient in the LAMC1 gene. Laminin gamma 1 (-/-) cardiomyocytes lacked basement membranes (BM), whereas their sarcomeric organization was unaffected. Accordingly, electrical activity and hormonal regulation were found to be intact. However, the inadequate BM formation led to an increase of ECM deposits between adjacent cardiomyocytes, and this resulted in defects of the electrical signal propagation. Furthermore, we also found an increase in the number of pacemaker areas. Thus, although laminin and intact BM are not essential for cardiomyocyte development and differentiation per se, they are required for the normal deposition of matrix molecules and critical for intact electrical signal propagation. STEM CELLS 2009; 27: 88-99