Cardiac myofibril induction

Abstract

Methods and products for altering or promoting the development of heart tissue are disclosed. The methods include the use of nucleic acids of cardiogenic inducing factor for treating a subject having heart disease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a cardiomyocyte, the method comprising:
 contacting a stem cell with an isolated Cardiogenic Inducing RNA (CIR) in an effective amount to induce differentiation into a cardiomyocyte.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell is contacted directly with the CIR. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell is contacted with an expression vector having a nucleic acid which expresses the CIR. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell is an embryonic stem cell. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell is a pluripotent human stem cell. 
     
     
         6 . A Cardiogenic Inducting RNA (CIR), wherein the CIR is selected from the group consisting of an isolated stabilized RNA or a CIR that includes at least one modified nucleoside. 
     
     
         7 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the CIR is encapsulated in a nanoparticle, lipid, polymer, cholesterol, or cell penetrating peptide. 
     
     
         8 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the CIR includes at least one nucleoside backbone modification. 
     
     
         9 . The CIR of  claim 8 , wherein the nucleoside backbone modification is a phosphorothioate modification. 
     
     
         10 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the CIR comprises a poly-A tail. 
     
     
         11 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the CIR comprises a secondary structure which includes at least 4 loops, including a first terminal loop, a second terminal loop and 2 central loops, interconnected by three stems, wherein the first terminal loop has at least one additional stem and the second terminal loop has at least two additional stems. 
     
     
         12 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one modified nucleoside comprises at least one modification as compared to the chemical structure of an A, G, U or C ribonucleotide. 
     
     
         13 . The CIR of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one modification is located in at least one of a nucleoside base and sugar portion. 
     
     
         14 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one modified nucleoside is 1-methylpseudouridine or pseudouridine. 
     
     
         15 . The CIR of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one modified nucleoside is a 2′ O-methyl modified nucleoside. 
     
     
         16 . A cardiomyocyte comprising an exogenous Cardiogenic Inducing RNA (CIR).