A common precursor for hematopoietic and endothelial cells.
Embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies contain a unique precursor population which, in response to vascular endothelial growth factor, gives rise to blast colonies in semi-solid medium. Upon transfer to liquid culture with appropriate cytokines, these blast colonies generate both hematopoietic and adherent, stromal-type cells. Cells within the adherent population display characteristics of endothelial lineage including the expression of CD31, flk-1, flt-1, tie-2, the capacity to take up acetylated LDL and the presence of cytoplasmic Weibel-Palade bodies. Mixing studies demonstrated that the hematopoietic and endothelial precursors within the blast colonies develop from the same cell, the blast colony-forming cell. Kinetic analysis showed that the blast colony-forming cell represents a transient cell population that develops early and is lost quickly during embryoid body development. These findings provide strong evidence that the blast colony-forming cell represents the long-hypothesized hemangioblast, the common precursor of the hematopoietic and endothelial lineages.
Choi
K
K
Department of Pathology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. kchoi@umabnet.ab.umd.edu
Kennedy
M
M
Kazarov
A
A
Papadimitriou
J C
JC
Keller
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor