title: Hepatocyte Growth Factor Effects on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Arteries: A Novel Strategy to Accelerate Vascular Ulcer Wound Healing.
abstract: Vascular ulcers are a serious complication of peripheral vascular disease, especially in diabetics. Several approaches to treat the wounds are proposed but they show poor outcomes and require long healing times. Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting many biological activities through the c-Met receptor. This study was aimed at verifying whether HGF/SF influences proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis on mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human arteries (hVW-MSCs). hVW-MSCs were exposed to NIBSC HGF/SF (2.5, 5, 10, and 70 ng/mL) from 6 hrs to 7 days. HGF and c-MET mRNA and protein expression, cell proliferation (Alamar Blue and Ki-67 assay), migration (scratch and transwell assays), and angiogenesis (Matrigel) were investigated. hVW-MSCs displayed stemness features and expressed HGF and c-MET. HGF/SF did not increase hVW-MSC proliferation, whereas it enhanced the cell migration, the formation of capillary-like structures, and the expression of angiogenic markers (vWF, CD31, and KDR). The HGF/SF effects on hVW-MSC migration and angiogenic potential are of great interest to accelerate wound healing process. Local delivery of HGF/SF could therefore improve the healing of unresponsive vascular ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6465-9945
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciavarella
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasanisi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Tissue Bank-Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital St. Orsola-Malpighi, Polyclinic of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianandrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1506-1829
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquinelli