title: Defining differences among perivascular cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Distinguishing between perivascular cell types remains a hurdle in vascular biology due to overlapping marker expressions and similar functionalities. Clarifying and defining heterogeneities in vitro among perivascular cells could lead to improved cell-based tissue regeneration strategies and a better understanding of human developmental processes. We studied contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs), synthetic vSMCs, and pericytes derived from a common human pluripotent stem cell source. Using in vitro cultures, we show unique cell morphology, subcellular organelle organization (namely endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and stress fibers), and expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and elastin for each cell type. While differences in extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling were less pronounced, the multipotency, in vivo, migratory, invasion, and contractile functionalities are distinctive for each cell type. Overall, we define a repertoire of functional phenotypes in vitro specific for each of the human perivascular cell types, enabling their study and use in basic and translational research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wanjare
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Sravanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kusuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA ; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerecht
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D004549:Elastin; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains