title: Isolation and characterization of endothelial progenitor cells from mouse embryos.
abstract: The cardiovascular system develops early in embryogenesis from cells of mesodermal origin. To study the molecular and cellular processes underlying this transition, we have isolated mesodermal cells from murine embryos at E7.5 with characteristic properties of endothelial progenitors by using a combination of stromal cell layers and growth conditions. The isolated embryonic cells displayed unlimited stem-cell-like growth potential and a stable phenotype in culture. RNA analysis revealed that the embryonic cells express the endothelial-specific genes tie-2 and thrombomodulin (TM) as well as the early mesodermal marker fgf-3. The GSL I-B4 isolectin, a marker of early endothelial cells, specifically binds to the isolated cells. The in vitro differentiation with retinoic acid and cAMP led to a 5- to 10-fold induction of flk-1, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), TM, GATA-4 and GATA-6. Electron microscopy revealed that in vitro differentiation is associated with increased amounts of rER and Golgi, and a dramatic increase in secretory vesicles packed with vWF. When cultured in Matrigel, the embryonic cells assume the characteristic endothelial cobblestone morphology and form tubes. Injection into chicken embryos showed incorporation of the embryonic cells in the endocardium and the brain vasculature. The expression of TM, tie-2, GATA-4 and GATA-6 suggests that the isolated embryonic endothelial cell progenitors are derived from the proximal lateral mesoderm where the pre-endocardial tubes form. The properties of the endothelial cell progenitors described here provide a novel approach to analyze mediators, signaling pathways and transcriptional control in early vascular development.
authors.affiliation: MIT, Department of Biology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hatzopoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasile
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Eiselen
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018870:Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005865:Gestational Age; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489197:Fgf3 protein, mouse; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; C494760:Gata6 protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D014212:Tretinoin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor