The effect of human bone marrow stromal cells and dermal fibroblasts on angiogenesis.
BACKGROUND
A cell therapy methodology for angiogenesis using fibroblasts has already been developed. Bone marrow stromal cells, which contain mesenchymal stem cells, have a low rate of immunity-assisted rejection and are capable of expanding profoundly in culture. Therefore, these cells offer several advantages for transplantation over mature cells. The aim of this study was to compare the angiogenic activity of bone marrow stromal cells with that of fibroblasts.


METHODS
For in vitro study, cultured human bone marrow stromal cells and dermal fibroblasts were seeded onto 96-well culture plates. After 1, 3, and 5 days, the levels of the basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were compared. For in vivo study, porous polyethylene disks were loaded with bone marrow stromal cells, fibroblasts, or no cells and then implanted in the backs of rats. At three time intervals ranging from 1 to 3 weeks, the microvascular density was measured.


RESULTS
In the in vitro study, the basic fibroblast growth factor levels in the bone marrow stromal cell group were 47, 89, and 68 percent higher than in the fibroblast group at each time interval (p < 0.05). The vascular endothelial growth factor levels of the bone marrow stromal cell group were seven, 12, and 12 times higher than those of the fibroblast group (p < 0.05). In the in vivo study, there was little difference in the microvascular density among the three groups by the second week. However, the 3-week specimens showed a significantly greater difference. The microvascular density averaged 52.88, 26.12, and 17.50 for the bone marrow stromal cell, fibroblast, and no-cell groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that bone marrow stromal cells may possibly be used as a replacement for fibroblasts for angiogenesis.
Han
Seung-Kyu
SK
Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pshan@kumc.or.kr
Chun
Kyung-Wook
KW
Gye
Min-Seok
MS
Kim
Woo-Kyung
WK
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2