title: Vascular endothelium as a novel source of stem cells for bioengineering.
abstract: Endothelial plasticity, the ability of endothelial cells to alter their lineage commitment to generate other cell types, is involved in many developmental and pathological processes. It was recently shown that vascular endothelial cells are converted to a mesenchymal stem cell phenotype through a process known as endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). EndMT is characterized as a morphological and phenotypical transformation of endothelial cells that has been implicated in cardiac development, cancer, fibrosis and heterotopic ossification. Here we describe the molecular and cellular basis for EndMT-dependent generation of endothelial-derived stem cells and their potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Providence, RI USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology; Department of Medicine; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Providence, RI USA; Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine; Rhode Island Hospital; Providence, RI USA; Cardiovascular Research Center; Rhode Island Hospital; Providence, RI USA; Center for Biomedical Engineering; Brown University; Providence, RI USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Susienka
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Providence, RI USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology; Department of Medicine; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Providence, RI USA; Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine; Rhode Island Hospital; Providence, RI USA; Cardiovascular Research Center; Rhode Island Hospital; Providence, RI USA; Center for Biomedical Engineering; Brown University; Providence, RI USA.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medici
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
keywords: EMT; endothelial; endothelial-mesenchymal transition; stem cells; vascular