title: Differentiation, survival, and function of embryonic stem cell derived endothelial cells for ischemic heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Embryonic stem (ES) cells are distinguished by their capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency. Here we characterize the differentiation of ES cell-derived endothelial cells (ESC-ECs), use molecular imaging techniques to examine their survival in vivo, and determine the therapeutic efficacy of ESC-ECs for restoration of cardiac function after ischemic injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Murine ES cells were transfected with a construct composed of a vascular endothelial cadherin promoter driving enhanced green fluorescence protein (pVE-cadherin-eGFP). Differentiation of ES cells to ECs was detected by FACS analysis using Flk-1 (early EC marker at day 4) and VE-cadherin (late EC marker at day 8). After isolation, these ESC-ECs express endothelial cell markers similar to adult mouse lung endothelial cells, form vascular-like channels, and incorporate DiI-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-Ac-LDL). For in vivo imaging, ES cells were transduced with an ubiquitin promoter driving firefly luciferase and monomeric red fluorescence protein (pUb-Fluc-mRFP). A robust correlation exists between Fluc signals and cell numbers by ex vivo imaging analysis (R2=0.98) and by in vitro enzyme assay (R2=0.94). Afterward, 5x10(5) ESC-ECs or PBS (as control) was injected into the hearts of mice undergoing LAD ligation (n=15 per group). Bioluminescence imaging showed longitudinal survival of transplanted ESC-ECs for approximately 8 weeks. Echocardiogram demonstrated significant functional improvement in the ESC-EC group compared with control (P=0.04). Finally, postmortem analysis confirmed increased presence of small capillaries and venules in the infarcted zones by CD31 staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to track the fate and function of transplanted ESC-ECs in the heart. With further validation, these ESC-ECs could become a valuable source of cell therapy for induction of angiogenesis in the treatment of myocardial ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Zongjin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jenny C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ahmad Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Manishkumar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Sanjiv S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gambhir
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*