Cardiac differentiation of human embryonic stem cells using Apelin

A 3 steps protocol for enhanced differentiation of cardiac cells from human embryonic stem cells (hEMCs) via exposure to a combination of Apelin and mesodermal differentiation factors (BMP4, activin A and bFGF). After 23 days more than 40% of the embryoid bodies (EBs) contain beating cells. This induction rate is higher than can be achieved by spontaneous differentiation protocols.