Bone marrow derived pluripotent cells are pericytes which contribute to vascularization.
Pericytes are essential to vascularization, but the purification and characterization of pericytes remain unclear. Smooth muscle actin alpha (alpha-SMA) is one marker [corrected] of pericytes. The aim of this study is to purify the alpha-SMA positive cells from bone marrow and study the characteristics of these cells and the interaction between alpha-SMA positive cells and endothelial cells. The bone marrow stromal cells were harvested from alpha-SMA-GFP transgenic mice, and the alpha-SMA-GFP positive cells were sorted by FACS. The proliferative characteristics and multilineage differentiation ability of the alpha-SMA-GFP positive cells were tested. A 3-D culture model was then applied to test their vascularization by loading alpha-SMA-GFP positive cells and endothelial cells on collagen-fibronectin gel. Results demonstrated that bone marrow stromal cells are mostly alpha-SMA-GFP positive cells which are pluripotent, and these cells expressed alpha-SMA during differentiation. The alpha-SMA-GFP positive cells could stimulate the endothelial cells to form tube-like structures and subsequently robust vascular networks in 3-D culture. In conclusion, the bone marrow derived pluripotent cells include [corrected] pericytes and can contribute to vascularization.
Cai
Xiaoxiao
X
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China.
Lin
Yunfeng
Y
Friedrich
Claudia C
CC
Neville
Craig
C
Pomerantseva
Irina
I
Sundback
Cathryn A
CA
Sharma
Parul
P
Zhang
Zhiyuan
Z
Vacanti
Joseph P
JP
Hauschka
Peter V
PV
Grottkau
Brian E
BE
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins