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Dastouri M, Ozdag H, Akar AR, Can A. Differentiation and molecular characterization of endothelial progenitor and vascular smooth muscle cells from induced pluripotent stem cells. BIOIMPACTS : BI 2022; 13:289-300. [PMID: 37645025 PMCID: PMC10460769 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2022.24132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Pluripotent stem cells have been used by various researchers to differentiate and characterize endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) for the clinical treatment of vascular injuries. Studies continue to differentiate and characterize the cells with higher vascularization potential and low risk of malignant transformation to the recipient. Unlike previous studies, this research aimed to differentiate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and VSMCs using a step-wise technique. This was achieved by elucidating the spatio-temporal expressions of the stage-specific genes and proteins during the differentiation process. The presence of highly expressed oncogenes in iPS cells was also investigated during the differentiation period. Methods Induced PS cells were differentiated into lateral mesoderm cells (Flk1+). The Flk1+ populations were isolated on day 5.5 of the mesodermal differentiation period. Flk1+ cells were further differentiated into EPCs and VSMCs using VEGF165 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), respectively, and then characterized using gene expression levels, immunocytochemistry (ICC), and western blot (WB) methods. During the differentiation steps, the expression levels of the marker genes and proto-oncogenic Myc and Klf4 genes were simultaneously studied. Results The optimal time for the isolation of Flk1+ cells was on day 5.5. EPCs and VSMCs were differentiated from Flk1+ cells and characterized with EPC-specific markers, including Kdr, Pecam1, CD133, Cdh5, Efnb2, Vcam1; and VSMC-specific markers, including Acta2, Cnn1, Des, and Myh11. Differentiated cells were validated based on their temporal gene expressions, protein synthesis, and localization at certain time points. Significant decreases in Myc and Klf4 gene expression levels were observed during the EPCs and VSMC differentiation period. Conclusion EPCs and VSMCs were successfully differentiated from iPS cells and characterized by gene expression levels, ICC, and WB. We observed significant decreases in oncogene expression levels in the differentiated EPCs and VSMCs. In terms of safety, the described methodology provided a better safety margin. EPCs and VSMC obtained using this method may be good candidates for transplantation and vascular regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Dastouri
- Ankara University Biotechnology Institute and SISBIYOTEK Advanced Research Unit, Gumusdere Yerleskesi, Kecioren Ankara, 06135, Turkey
| | - Hilal Ozdag
- Ankara University Biotechnology Institute and SISBIYOTEK Advanced Research Unit, Gumusdere Yerleskesi, Kecioren Ankara, 06135, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ruchan Akar
- Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center Dikimevi, Ankara, 06340, Turkey
| | - Alp Can
- Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratories for Stem Cells and Reproductive Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06410, Turkey
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Zhou D, Huang Z, Zhu X, Hong T, Zhao Y. Combination of endothelial progenitor cells and BB-94 significantly alleviates brain damage in a mouse model of diabetic ischemic stroke. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:789. [PMID: 34055088 PMCID: PMC8145984 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a complication of chronic macrovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. However, the pathogenesis of diabetic ischemic stroke has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-94 on diabetic stroke. In vitro experiments were performed using oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model cells, established using HT22 mouse hippocampal cells. MTT assays and flow cytometry revealed that BB-94 prominently induced the proliferation of the OGD/R model cells and prevented their apoptosis. When EPCs and BB-94 were applied to the OGD/R model cells in combination, proliferation was further accelerated and oxidative damage was attenuated. In vivo experiments were also performed using a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model. The results of modified neurological severity scoring and oxidative stress marker analysis demonstrated that EPCs and BB-94 prominently alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in the MCAO model mice. Furthermore, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot assays revealed that EPCs in combination with BB-94 significantly downregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulated the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 in OGD/R cells and MCAO model mice. The results suggest that EPCs were successfully isolated and identified, and the OGD/R cell and MCAO mouse models were successfully established. They also indicate that EPCs alone or in combination with BB-94 may exert protective effects against ischemic stroke via the reduction of MMP expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daixuan Zhou
- Queen Mary College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China
| | - Tao Hong
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, P.R. China
| | - Yuanli Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, P.R. China
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3
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Kong L, Wang Y, Wang H, Pan Q, Zuo R, Bai S, Zhang X, Lee WY, Kang Q, Li G. Conditioned media from endothelial progenitor cells cultured in simulated microgravity promote angiogenesis and bone fracture healing. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:47. [PMID: 33419467 PMCID: PMC7792074 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02074-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Paracrine signaling from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is beneficial for angiogenesis and thus promotes tissue regeneration. Microgravity (MG) environment is found to facilitate the functional potentials of various stem or progenitor cells. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of MG on pro-angiogenic properties and fracture repair capacities of conditioned media (CM) from EPCs. Methods Human peripheral blood-derived EPCs were cultured under MG or normal gravity (NG) followed by analysis for angiogenic gene expression. Furthermore, the serum-free CM under MG (MG-CM) or NG (NG-CM) were collected, and their pro-angiogenic properties were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In order to investigate the effects of MG-CM on fracture healing, they were injected into the fracture gaps of rat models, and radiography, histology, and mechanical test were performed to evaluate neovascularization and fracture healing outcomes. Results MG upregulated the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and promoted NO release. Comparing to NG-CM, MG-CM significantly facilitated the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs through NO-induced activation of FAK/Erk1/2-MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, MG-CM were verified to improve angiogenic activities in fracture area in a rat tibial fracture model, accelerate fracture healing, and well restore the biomechanical properties of fracture bone superior to NG-CM. Conclusion These findings provided insight into the use of MG bioreactor to enhance the angiogenic properties of EPCs’ paracrine signals via HIF-1α/eNOS/NO axis, and the administration of MG-CM favored bone fracture repair. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-020-02074-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingchi Kong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Yishan Rd. 600, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China.,Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Haixing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Qi Pan
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Rongtai Zuo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Yishan Rd. 600, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Bai
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Xiaoting Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Wayne Yukwai Lee
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC
| | - Qinglin Kang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Yishan Rd. 600, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China.
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC. .,The CUHK-ACC Space Medicine Centre on Health Maintenance of Musculoskeletal System, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR PRC.
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Oosterhoff LA, Kruitwagen HS, van Wolferen ME, van Balkom BWM, Mokry M, Lansu N, van den Dungen NAM, Penning LC, Spanjersberg TCF, de Graaf JW, Veenendaal T, Zomerdijk F, Fledderus JO, Spee B, van Steenbeek FG. Characterization of Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells From Different Canine Vessels. Front Physiol 2019; 10:101. [PMID: 30809157 PMCID: PMC6379353 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculature performs a critical function in tissue homeostasis, supply of oxygen and nutrients, and the removal of metabolic waste products. Vascular problems are implicated in a large variety of pathologies and accurate in vitro models resembling native vasculature are of great importance. Unfortunately, existing in vitro models do not sufficiently reflect their in vivo counterpart. The complexity of vasculature requires the examination of multiple cell types including endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as well as vessel location in the body from which they originate. The use of canine blood vessels provides a way to study vasculature with similar vessel size and physiology compared to human vasculature. We report an isolation procedure that provides the possibility to isolate both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells from the same vessels simultaneously, enabling new opportunities in investigating vasculature behavior. Canine primary ECs and VSMCs were isolated from the vena cava, vena porta and aorta. All tissue sources were derived from three donors for accurate comparison and to reduce inter-animal variation. The isolation and purification of the two distinct cell types was confirmed by morphology, gene- and protein-expression and function. As both cell types can be derived from the same vessel, this approach allows accurate modeling of vascular diseases and can also be used more widely, for example, in vascular bioreactors and tissue engineering designs. Additionally, we identified several new genes that were highly expressed in canine ECs, which may become candidate genes for novel EC markers. In addition, we observed transcriptional and functional differences between arterial- and venous-derived endothelium. Further exploration of the transcriptome and physiology of arteriovenous differentiation of primary cells may have important implications for a better understanding of the fundamental behavior of the vasculature and pathogenesis of vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loes A Oosterhoff
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Hedwig S Kruitwagen
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Monique E van Wolferen
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bas W M van Balkom
- Nephrology and Hypertension, Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Division of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Epigenomics Facility, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Nico Lansu
- Division of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Epigenomics Facility, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Noortje A M van den Dungen
- Epigenomics Facility, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Louis C Penning
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Talitha C F Spanjersberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Johannes W de Graaf
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tomas Veenendaal
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Flin Zomerdijk
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Joost O Fledderus
- Nephrology and Hypertension, Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bart Spee
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Frank G van Steenbeek
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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FLI1 and PKC co-activation promote highly efficient differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into endothelial-like cells. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:131. [PMID: 29374149 PMCID: PMC5833666 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-017-0162-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Rationale-endothelial cells (ECs) play important roles in various regeneration processes and can be used in a variety of therapeutic applications, such as cardiac regeneration, gene therapy, tissue-engineered vascular grafts and prevascularized tissue transplants. ECs can be acquired from pluripotent and adult stem cells. To acquire ECs from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in a fast, efficient and economic manner. We established a conditional overexpression system in hESCs based on 15 transcription factors reported to be responsible for hematopoiesis lineage. Among them, only overexpression of FLI1 could induce hESCs to a hematopoietic lineage. Moreover, simultaneous overexpression of FLI1 and activation of PKC rapidly and efficiently induced differentiation of hESCs into induced endothelial cells (iECs) within 3 days, while neither FLI1 overexpression nor PKC activation alone could derive iECs from hESCs. During induction, hESCs differentiated into spindle-like cells that were consistent in appearance with ECs. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that 92.2-98.9% and 87.2-92.6% of these cells were CD31+ and CD144+, respectively. Expression of vascular-specific genes dramatically increased, while the expression of pluripotency genes gradually decreased during induction. iECs incorporated acetylated low-density lipoproteins, strongly expressed vWF and bound UEA-1. iECs also formed capillary-like structures both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analysis verified that these cells closely resembled their in vivo counterparts. Our results showed that co-activation of FLI1 and PKC could induce differentiation of hESCs into iECs in a fast, efficient and economic manner.
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