title: Serosal mesothelium retains vasculogenic potential.
abstract: Mesothelia comprise the epithelial covering of coelomic organs and line the cavities in which they are housed. Mesothelia contribute to the vasculature of the heart and the intestinal tract by developmental processes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and differentiation into endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. Here, we establish a novel in vitro system to analyze the differentiative potential of mesothelia. Using explants from serosal mesothelium (the mesothelial covering of the gut), we demonstrate that much of the developmental program observed in embryonic mesothelia is retained in the adult structure. Namely, processes of epithelial spreading, EMT, and differentiation into smooth muscle cells from these cells are observed. Interestingly, we were unable to stimulate endothelial cell differentiation using serum or various signaling factors. Taken together, these data reveal that differentiated serosal cells retain vasculogenic potential and provide a generalizable model for future studies on the developmental and differentiative capacity of the mesothelial cell type.
authors.affiliation: Stahlman Research Laboratories, Program for Developmental Biology and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilm
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000077214:Becaplermin; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003893:Desmin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D000077214:Becaplermin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D007633:Keratins; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D009218:Myosins