Angiogenic potential of human dental pulp stromal (stem) cells.
Dental pulp is a heterogeneous microenviroment where unipotent progenitor and pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells cohabit. In this study we investigated whether human dental pulp stromal (stem) cells (DP-SCs) committed to the angiogenic fate. DP-SCs showed the specific mesenchymal immunophenotypical profile positive for CD29, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166 and negative for CD14, CD34, CD45, in accordance with that reported for bone marrow-derived SCs. The Oct-4 expression in DP-SCs, evaluated through RT-PCR analysis, increased in relation with the number of the passages in cell culture and decreased after angiogenic induction. In agreement with their multipotency, DP-SCs differentiated toward osteogenic and adipogenic commitments. In angiogenic experiments, differentiation of DP-SCs, through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induction, was evaluated by in vitro matrigel assay and by cytometric analysis. Accordingly, endothelial-specific markers like Flt-1 and KDR were basally expressed and they increased after exposure to VEGF together with the occurrence of ICAM-1 and von Willebrand factor positive cells. In addition, VEGF-induced DP-SCs maintained endothelial cell-like features when cultured in a 3-D fibrin mesh, displaying focal organization into capillary-like structures. The DP-SC angiogenic potential may prove a remarkable tool for novel approaches to developing tissue-engineered vascular grafts which are useful when vascularization of ischemic tissues is required.
Marchionni
C
C
Department of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, and Transfusion Medicine Service, S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Bonsi
L
L
Alviano
F
F
Lanzoni
G
G
Di Tullio
A
A
Costa
R
R
Montanari
M
M
Tazzari
P L
PL
Ricci
F
F
Pasquinelli
G
G
Orrico
C
C
Grossi
A
A
Prati
C
C
Bagnara
G P
GP
D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005337:Fibrin; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor