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Markou M, Kouroupis D, Badounas F, Katsouras A, Kyrkou A, Fotsis T, Murphy C, Bagli E. Tissue Engineering Using Vascular Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Mural Cell Phenotypes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:278. [PMID: 32363181 PMCID: PMC7182037 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion is a limiting factor in regenerating large tissues (100–200 μm) due to reduced nutrient supply and waste removal leading to low viability of the regenerating cells as neovascularization of the implant by the host is a slow process. Thus, generating prevascularized tissue engineered constructs, in which endothelial (ECs) and mural (MCs) cells, such as smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and pericytes (PCs), are preassembled into functional in vitro vessels capable of rapidly connecting to the host vasculature could overcome this obstacle. Toward this purpose, using feeder-free and low serum conditions, we developed a simple, efficient and rapid in vitro approach to induce the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells-hPSCs (human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells) to defined SMC populations (contractile and synthetic hPSC-SMCs) by extensively characterizing the cellular phenotype (expression of CD44, CD73, CD105, NG2, PDGFRβ, and contractile proteins) and function of hPSC-SMCs. The latter were phenotypically and functionally stable for at least 8 passages, and could stabilize vessel formation and inhibit vessel network regression, when co-cultured with ECs in vitro. Subsequently, using a methylcellulose-based hydrogel system, we generated spheroids consisting of EC/hPSC-SMC (vascular organoids), which were extensively phenotypically characterized. Moreover, the vascular organoids served as focal starting points for the sprouting of capillary-like structures in vitro, whereas their delivery in vivo led to rapid generation of a complex functional vascular network. Finally, we investigated the vascularization potential of these vascular organoids, when embedded in hydrogels composed of defined extracellular components (collagen/fibrinogen/fibronectin) that can be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. In summary, we developed a robust method for the generation of defined SMC phenotypes from hPSCs. Fabrication of vascularized tissue constructs using hPSC-SMC/EC vascular organoids embedded in chemically defined matrices is a significant step forward in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Markou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kouroupis
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Fotios Badounas
- Transgenic Technology Laboratory, Inflammation Group, Department of Immunology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Katsouras
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Athena Kyrkou
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Theodore Fotsis
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Carol Murphy
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleni Bagli
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ioannina, Greece
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Mosich GM, Husman R, Shah P, Sharma A, Rezzadeh K, Aderibigbe T, Hu VJ, McClintick DJ, Wu G, Gatto JD, Xi H, Pyle AD, Péault B, Petrigliano FA, Dar A. Non-fibro-adipogenic pericytes from human embryonic stem cells attenuate degeneration of the chronically injured mouse muscle. JCI Insight 2019; 4:125334. [PMID: 31852842 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.125334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Massive tears of the rotator cuff (RC) are associated with chronic muscle degeneration due to fibrosis, fatty infiltration, and muscle atrophy. The microenvironment of diseased muscle often impairs efficient engraftment and regenerative activity of transplanted myogenic precursors. Accumulating myofibroblasts and fat cells disrupt the muscle stem cell niche and myogenic cell signaling and deposit excess disorganized connective tissue. Therefore, restoration of the damaged stromal niche with non-fibro-adipogenic cells is a prerequisite to successful repair of an injured RC. We generated from human embryonic stem cells (hES) a potentially novel subset of PDGFR-β+CD146+CD34-CD56- pericytes that lack expression of the fibro-adipogenic cell marker PDGFR-α. Accordingly, the PDGFR-β+PDGFR-α- phenotype typified non-fibro-adipogenic, non-myogenic, pericyte-like derivatives that maintained non-fibro-adipogenic properties when transplanted into chronically injured murine RCs. Although administered hES pericytes inhibited developing fibrosis at early and late stages of progressive muscle degeneration, transplanted PDGFR-β+PDGFR-α+ human muscle-derived fibro-adipogenic progenitors contributed to adipogenesis and greater fibrosis. Additionally, transplanted hES pericytes substantially attenuated muscle atrophy at all tested injection time points after injury. Coinciding with this observation, conditioned medium from cultured hES pericytes rescued atrophic myotubes in vitro. These findings imply that non-fibro-adipogenic hES pericytes recapitulate the myogenic stromal niche and may be used to improve cell-based treatments for chronic muscle disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M Mosich
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Regina Husman
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Paras Shah
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Abhinav Sharma
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Kevin Rezzadeh
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | | | - Vivian J Hu
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | | | - Genbin Wu
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Jonathan D Gatto
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
| | - Haibin Xi
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, California, USA
| | - April D Pyle
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, California, USA
| | - Bruno Péault
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, California, USA.,Center for Cardiovascular Science and MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frank A Petrigliano
- Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ayelet Dar
- Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, and
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Avolio E, Alvino VV, Ghorbel MT, Campagnolo P. Perivascular cells and tissue engineering: Current applications and untapped potential. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 171:83-92. [PMID: 27889329 PMCID: PMC5345698 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The recent development of tissue engineering provides exciting new perspectives for the replacement of failing organs and the repair of damaged tissues. Perivascular cells, including vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes and other tissue specific populations residing around blood vessels, have been isolated from many organs and are known to participate to the in situ repair process and angiogenesis. Their potential has been harnessed for cell therapy of numerous pathologies; however, in this Review we will discuss the potential of perivascular cells in the development of tissue engineering solutions for healthcare. We will examine their application in the engineering of vascular grafts, cardiac patches and bone substitutes as well as other tissue engineering applications and we will focus on their extensive use in the vascularization of engineered constructs. Additionally, we will discuss the emerging potential of human pericytes for the development of efficient, vascularized and non-immunogenic engineered constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Avolio
- Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Valeria V Alvino
- Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mohamed T Ghorbel
- Division of Congenital Heart Surgery, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Campagnolo
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
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Kusuma S, Facklam A, Gerecht S. Characterizing human pluripotent-stem-cell-derived vascular cells for tissue engineering applications. Stem Cells Dev 2014; 24:451-8. [PMID: 25233291 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-engineered constructs are rendered useless without a functional vasculature owing to a lack of nutrients and oxygen. Cell-based approaches to reconstruct blood vessels can yield structures that mimic native vasculature and aid transplantation. Vascular derivatives of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer opportunities to generate patient-specific therapies and potentially provide unlimited amounts of vascular cells. To be used in engineered vascular constructs and confer therapeutic benefit, vascular derivatives must exhibit additional key properties, including extracellular matrix (ECM) production to confer structural integrity and growth factor production to facilitate integration. In this study, we examine the hypothesis that vascular cells derived from hiPSCs exhibit these critical properties to facilitate their use in engineered tissues. hiPSCs were codifferentiated toward early vascular cells (EVCs), a bicellular population of endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, under varying low-oxygen differentiation conditions; subsequently, ECs were isolated and passaged. We found that EVCs differentiated under low-oxygen conditions produced copious amounts of collagen IV and fibronectin as well as vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin 2. EVCs differentiated under atmospheric conditions did not demonstrate such abundant ECM expression, but exhibited greater expression of angiopoietin 1. Isolated ECs could proliferate up to three passages while maintaining the EC marker vascular endothelial cadherin. Isolated ECs demonstrated an increased propensity to produce ECM compared with their EVC correlates and took on an arterial-like fate. These findings illustrate that hiPSC vascular derivates hold great potential for therapeutic use and should continue to be a preferred cell source for vascular construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sravanti Kusuma
- 1 Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland
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Wanjare M, Kusuma S, Gerecht S. Defining differences among perivascular cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2014; 2:561-75. [PMID: 24936446 PMCID: PMC4050491 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Distinguishing between perivascular cell types remains a hurdle in vascular biology due to overlapping marker expressions and similar functionalities. Clarifying and defining heterogeneities in vitro among perivascular cells could lead to improved cell-based tissue regeneration strategies and a better understanding of human developmental processes. We studied contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs), synthetic vSMCs, and pericytes derived from a common human pluripotent stem cell source. Using in vitro cultures, we show unique cell morphology, subcellular organelle organization (namely endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and stress fibers), and expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and elastin for each cell type. While differences in extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling were less pronounced, the multipotency, in vivo, migratory, invasion, and contractile functionalities are distinctive for each cell type. Overall, we define a repertoire of functional phenotypes in vitro specific for each of the human perivascular cell types, enabling their study and use in basic and translational research. Contractile and synthetic vSMCs and pericytes were derived from a common hiPSC line Morphology and organelle organization differ among the perivascular derivatives SMMHC and elastin specify the mature contractile vSMC phenotype Migration, invasion, and contractility are unique for each perivascular cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Wanjare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sravanti Kusuma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA ; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Melchiorri AJ, Nguyen BNB, Fisher JP. Mesenchymal stem cells: roles and relationships in vascularization. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2014; 20:218-28. [PMID: 24410463 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2013.0541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
One of the primary challenges in translating tissue engineering to clinical applicability is adequate, functional vascularization of tissue constructs. Vascularization is necessary for the long-term viability of implanted tissue expanded and differentiated in vitro. Such tissues may be derived from various cell sources, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs, able to differentiate down several lineages, have been extensively researched for their therapeutic capabilities. In addition, MSCs have a variety of roles in the vascularization of tissue, both through direct contact and indirect signaling. The studied relationships between MSCs and vascularization have been utilized to further the necessary advancement of vascularization in tissue engineering concepts. This review aims to provide a summary of relevant relationships between MSCs, vascularization, and other relevant cell types, along with an overview discussing applications and challenges related to the roles and relationships of MSCs and vascular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Melchiorri
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland
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Wanjare M, Kusuma S, Gerecht S. Perivascular cells in blood vessel regeneration. Biotechnol J 2013; 8:434-47. [PMID: 23554249 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2012] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Vascular engineering seeks to design and construct functional blood vessels comprising endothelial cells (ECs) and perivascular cells (PCs), with the ultimate goal of clinical translation. While EC behavior has been extensively investigated, PCs play an equally significant role in the development of novel regenerative strategies, providing functionality and stability to vessels. The two major classes of PCs are vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) and pericytes; vSMCs can be further sub-classified as either contractile or synthetic. The inclusion of these cell types is crucial for successful regeneration of blood vessels. Furthermore, understanding distinctions between vSMCs and pericytes will enable improved therapeutics in a tissue-specific manner. Here we focus on the approaches and challenges facing the use of PCs in vascular regeneration, including their characteristics, stem cell sources, and interactions with ECs. Finally, we discuss biochemical and microRNA (miR) regulators of PC behavior and engineering approaches that mimic various cues affecting PC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Wanjare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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