[Differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells into smooth-muscle-like cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility of inducing the differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into smooth-muscle-like cells in monolayer culture in vitro.


METHODS
ADSCs were obtained from the adipose of the inguinal region of the SD rat. A growth curve of the ADSCs was drawn. The fourth passage ADSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with adipogenic inducing fluid and determined by Oil Red O staining, into osteoblasts with osteogenic inducing fluid and determined by Von Kossa staining, as well as into smooth-muscle-like cells with inducing fluid containing beta-mercaptoethanol, and the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was detected by the immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
The ADSCs presented spindle and polygon shapes and proliferated rapidly in vitro. The growth curve showed the ADSCs in the logarithmic growth phase two days after subculture. The fourth passage ADSCs exhibited red stained lipid droplets characteristic of adipocytes in the cytoplasm on Oil Red O staining after induction with adipogenic inducing fluid, and calcium nodes on Von Kossa staining after induction with osteogenic inducing fluid. The immunohistochemical results of the ADSCs induced into smooth-muscle-like cells showed that the positive rate of alpha-SMA in the beta-mercaptoethanol induced cells was (29.80 +/- 6.89)%, significantly higher than in the uninduced ones ([2.89 +/- 1.24]%, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
ADSCs displayed obvious characteristics of smooth muscle cells after induction, and could be a new source of cells in the tissue engineering studies of smooth muscle related diseases.
Chen
Rui-Bao
RB
Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. chen0211090@sina.com
Liu
Ji-Hong
JH
Rao
Ke
K
Pan
Yun-Gao
YG
Wang
Tao
T
Wang
Shao-Gang
SG
Ye
Zhang-Qun
ZQ
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D008297:Male; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley