Cardiomyogenesis is influenced by factors secreted by anterior-lateral and extra-embryonic endoderm. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells in embryoid bodies allows to study the influence of growth factors on cardiomyogenesis. By these means SPARC was identified as a new factor enhancing cardiomyogenesis [M. Stary, W. Pasteiner, A. Summer, A. Hrdina, A. Eger, G. Weitzer, Parietal endoderm secreted SPARC promotes early cardiomyogenesis in vitro, Exp. Cell Res. 310 (2005) 331-341]. Here we report a similar and new function for S100A4, a calcium-binding protein of the EF-hand type. S100A4 is secreted by parietal endoderm and promotes early differentiation and proliferation of cardiomyocytes. Oligomeric S100A4 supports cardiomyogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas inhibition of autocrine S100A4 severely attenuates cardiomyogenesis. S100A4 specifically influences transcription in differentiating cardiomyocytes, as evident from increased expression of cardiac transcription factor genes nkx2.5 and mef2C. These data suggest that S100A4, like SPARC, plays a supportive role in early in vitro cardiomyogenesas. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.