Shear stress induces endothelial differentiation from a murine embryonic mesenchymal progenitor cell line.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have illustrated that mesenchymal stem cells possess the potential to differentiate along an endothelial lineage, but the effect of shear on mesenchymal differentiation is unknown. Thus, we developed an in vitro shear stress system to examine the relationship between shear stress and the endothelial differentiation of a murine embryonic mesenchymal progenitor cell line, C3H/10T1/2.


RESULTS
The parallel plate system of fluid shear stress was used. Shear stress significantly induced expression of mature endothelial cell-specific markers in CH3H/10T1/2 cells such as CD31, von Willebrand factor, and vascular endothelial-cadherin at both the mRNA and protein levels with real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence analyses, respectively. In addition, shear-induced augmentation of functional markers of the mature endothelial phenotype such as uptake of acetylated low-density lipoproteins and formation of capillary-like structures on Matrigel. Furthermore, shear stress significantly upregulated angiogenic growth factors while downregulating growth factors associated with smooth muscle cell differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates, for the fist time, endothelial differentiation in a mesenchymal progenitor CH3H/10T1/2 cell line resulting from shear exposure. Thus, this analysis may serve as a basis for further understanding the effect of shear on mesenchymal and vascular cell differentiation.
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Hao
H
Wang
Gordon M
GM
Riha
Shaoyu
S
Yan
Min
M
Li
Hong
H
Chai
Hui
H
Yang
Qizhi
Q
Yao
Changyi
C
Chen
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000099152:Cadherin 5