title: Equine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Retain a Pericyte-Like Phenotype.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been used in human and equine regenerative medicine, and interest in exploiting their potential has increased dramatically over the years. Despite significant effort to characterize equine MSCs, the actual origin of these cells and how much of their native phenotype is maintained in culture have not been determined. In this study, we investigated the relationship between MSCs, derived from adipose tissue (AT) and bone marrow (BM), and pericytes in the horse. Both pericyte (CD146, NG2, and αSMA) and MSC (CD29, CD90, and CD73) markers were detected in equine AT and colocalized around blood vessels. Importantly, as assessed by flow cytometry, both pericyte (CD146, NG2, and αSMA) and MSC (CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD105) markers were present in a majority (≥90%) of cells in cultures of AT-MSCs and BM-MSCs; however, levels of pericyte markers were variable within each of those populations. Moreover, the expression of pericyte markers was maintained for at least eight passages in both AT-MSCs and BM-MSCs. Hematopoietic (CD45) and endothelial (CD144) markers were also detected at low levels in MSCs by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Finally, in coculture experiments, AT-MSCs closely associated with networks produced by endothelial cells, resembling the natural perivascular location of pericytes in vivo. Our results indicate that equine MSCs originate from perivascular cells and moreover maintain a pericyte-like phenotype in culture. Therefore, we suggest that, in addition to classical MSC markers, pericyte markers such as CD146 could be used when assessing and characterizing equine MSCs.
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Cristina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Tara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sheldrake
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menghini
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Burgunde Elisabeth
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amilon
authors.affiliation: 2 Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Nusrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: 2 Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .|3 Orthopaedic Hospital Research Centre, University of California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Péault
authors.affiliation: 1 The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Francesc Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Donadeu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D015820:Cadherins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D000099152:Cadherin 5
keywords: adipose tissue; bone marrow; equine; horse; mesenchymal stem cells; pericyte