Human adipose tissue-derived stem cells differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro and improve postnatal neovascularization in vivo.
In this study, we isolated CD31(-), CD34(-), CD106(-) (VCAM-1(-)), and fetal liver kinase(+) (Flk1(+)) cells from adipose tissue. These cells can be induced to differentiate into cells of osteogenic and adipogenic lineages in vitro and were termed adipose derived adult stem cells (ADAS cells). We also showed that they have characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells. In vitro, ADAS cells expressed endothelial markers when cultured with VEGF. In vivo, ADAS cells can differentiate in response to local cues into endothelial cells that contributed to neoangiogenesis in hindlimb ischemia models. PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 blocked the differentiation of ADAS cells into endothelial cells in vitro. Because ADAS cells can be expanded in culture without obvious senescence for more than 20 population doublings, they may be a potential source of endothelial cells for cellular pro-angiogenic therapies.
Cao
Ying
Y
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China.
Sun
Zhao
Z
Liao
Lianming
L
Meng
Yan
Y
Han
Qin
Q
Zhao
Robert Chunhua
RC
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*