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King NE, Courtney JM, Brown LS, Fortune AJ, Blackburn NB, Fletcher JL, Cashion JM, Talbot J, Pébay A, Hewitt AW, Morris GP, Young KM, Cook AL, Sutherland BA. Induced pluripotent stem cell derived pericytes respond to mediators of proliferation and contractility. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:59. [PMID: 38433209 PMCID: PMC10910734 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03671-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pericytes are multifunctional contractile cells that reside on capillaries. Pericytes are critical regulators of cerebral blood flow and blood-brain barrier function, and pericyte dysfunction may contribute to the pathophysiology of human neurological diseases including Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived pericytes (iPericytes) are a promising tool for vascular research. However, it is unclear how iPericytes functionally compare to primary human brain vascular pericytes (HBVPs). METHODS We differentiated iPSCs into iPericytes of either the mesoderm or neural crest lineage using established protocols. We compared iPericyte and HBVP morphologies, quantified gene expression by qPCR and bulk RNA sequencing, and visualised pericyte protein markers by immunocytochemistry. To determine whether the gene expression of neural crest iPericytes, mesoderm iPericytes or HBVPs correlated with their functional characteristics in vitro, we quantified EdU incorporation following exposure to the key pericyte mitogen, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and, contraction and relaxation in response to the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 or vasodilator adenosine, respectively. RESULTS iPericytes were morphologically similar to HBVPs and expressed canonical pericyte markers. However, iPericytes had 1864 differentially expressed genes compared to HBVPs, while there were 797 genes differentially expressed between neural crest and mesoderm iPericytes. Consistent with the ability of HBVPs to respond to PDGF-BB signalling, PDGF-BB enhanced and a PDGF receptor-beta inhibitor impaired iPericyte proliferation. Administration of endothelin-1 led to iPericyte contraction and adenosine led to iPericyte relaxation, of a magnitude similar to the response evoked in HBVPs. We determined that neural crest iPericytes were less susceptible to PDGFR beta inhibition, but responded most robustly to vasoconstrictive mediators. CONCLUSIONS iPericytes express pericyte-associated genes and proteins and, exhibit an appropriate physiological response upon exposure to a key endogenous mitogen or vasoactive mediators. Therefore, the generation of functional iPericytes would be suitable for use in future investigations exploring pericyte function or dysfunction in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie E King
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jo-Maree Courtney
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Lachlan S Brown
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Alastair J Fortune
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Blackburn
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Jessica L Fletcher
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Jake M Cashion
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jana Talbot
- Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary P Morris
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Kaylene M Young
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Anthony L Cook
- Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Brad A Sutherland
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Level 4, Medical Sciences Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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