title: Peg3/PW1 Is a Marker of a Subset of Vessel Associated Endothelial Progenitors.
abstract: Vascular associated endothelial cell (ECs) progenitors are still poorly studied and their role in the newly forming vasculature at embryonic or postnatal stage remains elusive. In the present work, we first defined a set of genes highly expressed during embryo development and strongly downregulated in the adult mouse. In this group, we then concentrated on the progenitor cell marker Peg3/PW1. By in vivo staining of the vasculature we found that only a subset of cells coexpressed endothelial markers and PW1. These cells were quite abundant in the embryo vasculature but declined in number at postnatal and adult stages. Using a reporter mouse for PW1 expression, we have been able to isolate PW1-positive (PW1posECs) and negative endothelial cells (PW1negECs). PW1-positive cells were highly proliferative in comparison to PW1negECs and were able to form colonies when seeded at clonal dilution. Furthermore, by RNAseq analysis, PW1posECs expressed endothelial cell markers together with mesenchymal and stem cell markers. When challenged by endothelial growth factors in vitro, PW1posECs were able to proliferate more than PW1negECs and to efficiently form new vessels in vivo. Taken together these data identify a subset of vessel associated endothelial cells with characteristics of progenitor cells. Considering their high proliferative potential these cells may be of particular importance to design therapies to improve the perfusion of ischemic tissues or to promote vascular repair. Stem Cells 2017;35:1328-1340.
authors.affiliation: FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) Fondazione, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malinverno
authors.affiliation: FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) Fondazione, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corada
authors.affiliation: FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) Fondazione, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrarini
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN) UMRS 1166 Université de Pierre et Marie Curie-Sorbonne Universités and INSERM, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Formicola
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN) UMRS 1166 Université de Pierre et Marie Curie-Sorbonne Universités and INSERM, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marazzi
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN) UMRS 1166 Université de Pierre et Marie Curie-Sorbonne Universités and INSERM, Paris, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sassoon
authors.affiliation: FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) Fondazione, Milan, Italy.|Department of Biosciences, School of Sciences and Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Milan University, Milan, Italy.|Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C097901:Peg3 protein, mouse
keywords: Angiogenesis; Gene expression profiling; Peg3/PW1; Vascular associated endothelial progenitors