title: Differentiation of human dermal fibroblasts towards endothelial cells.
abstract: The ultimate goal of vascular tissue engineering is the production of functional grafts for clinical use. Difficulties acquiring autologous endothelial cells have motivated the search for alternative cell sources. Differentiation of dermal fibroblasts towards several mesenchymal lineages as well as endothelial cells has been proposed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the endothelial differentiation capacity of human dermal fibroblasts on a gene expression, protein expression and functional physiological level. Endothelial differentiation of fibroblasts was induced by culturing cells in 30% human serum, but not in fetal calf serum. Expression of proteins and genes relevant for endothelial function and differentiation was increased after induction. Furthermore, fibroblasts exposed to 30% human serum displayed increased uptake of low-density lipoprotein and formation of capillary-like networks. The results of this study may have an impact on cell sourcing for vascular tissue engineering, and the development of methods for vascularization of autologous tissue engineered constructs.
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. jjunker@partners.org
authors: Johan P E
authors: JP
authors: Junker
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Lönnqvist
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Rakar
authors: Lisa K
authors: LK
authors: Karlsson
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Grenegård
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Kratz
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D044967:Serum; D023822:Tissue Engineering