title: Induced endothelial differentiation of cells from a murine embryonic mesenchymal cell line C3H/10T1/2 by angiogenic factors in vitro.
abstract: A murine embryonic mesenchymal cell line C3H/10T1/2 possesses the potential to differentiate into multiple cell phenotypes and has been recognized as multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, but no in vitro model of its endothelial differentiation has been established and the effect of angiogenic factors on the differentiation is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of angiogenic factors in inducing endothelial differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 cells in vitro. C3H/10T1/2 cells were treated with angiogenic factors, VEGF (10 ng/mL) and bFGF (5 ng/mL). At specified time points, cells were subjected to morphological study, immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR, LDL-uptake tests and 3-D culture for the examination of the structural and functional characteristics of endothelial cells. Classic cobblestone-like growth pattern appeared at 6 day of the induced differentiation. Immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR analyses revealed that the induced cells exhibited endothelial cell-specific markers such as CD31, von Willebrand factor, Flk1, Flt1, VE-cadherin, Tie2, EphrinB2 and Vezf1 at 9 day. The induced C3H/10T1/2 cells exhibited functional characteristics of the mature endothelial phenotype, such as uptake of acetylated low-density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL) and formation of capillary-like structures in three-dimensional culture. At 9 day, Weibel-Palade bodies were observed under a transmission electron microscope. This study demonstrates, for the first time, endothelial differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 cells induced by angiogenic factors, VEGF and bFGF, and confirms the multipotential differentiation ability. This in vitro model is useful for investigating the molecular events in endothelial differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Combined Injury, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Mingke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Huiqin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guohe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xinze
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Fengchao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tianming
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020302:Weibel-Palade Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C032629:acetyl-LDL; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2