title: Directed differentiation of embryonic origin-specific vascular smooth muscle subtypes from human pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) arise from diverse developmental origins. Regional distribution of vascular diseases may, in part, be attributed to this inherent heterogeneity in SMC lineage. Therefore, systems for generating human SMC subtypes of distinct embryonic origins would represent useful platforms for studying the influence of SMC lineage on the spatial specificity of vascular disease. Here we describe how human pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into distinct populations of SMC subtypes under chemically defined conditions. The initial stage (days 0-5 or 0-7) begins with the induction of three intermediate lineages: neuroectoderm, lateral plate mesoderm and paraxial mesoderm. Subsequently, these precursor lineages are differentiated into contractile SMCs (days 5-19+). At key stages, the emergence of lineage-specific markers confirms recapitulation of embryonic developmental pathways and generation of functionally distinct SMC subtypes. The ability to derive an unlimited supply of human SMCs will accelerate applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Andreia S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.affiliation: The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: 1] The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. [2] Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells