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Bone marrow-derived progenitor cells contribute to experimental choroidal neovascularization
Diego G Espinosa-Heidmann1, Alejandro Caicedo, Eleut P Hernandez
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|October 28, 2003
Summary
Bone marrow stem cells contribute to choroidal neovascularization (CNV) formation. These progenitor cells differentiate into both endothelial and smooth muscle cells within new blood vessels in the eye.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) pathogenesis is traditionally attributed to angiogenesis, where new vessels arise from existing capillaries.
- An alternative mechanism, postnatal vasculogenesis, involves circulating vascular progenitors from bone marrow contributing to neovascularization.
- The specific contribution of postnatal vasculogenesis to CNV remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of postnatal vasculogenesis in the formation of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
- To determine if bone marrow-derived progenitor cells contribute cellular components to the CNV lesion.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow transplantation using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled bone marrow into recipient mice.
- Induction of CNV via laser photocoagulation in the choroid of recipient mice.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of CNV lesions to detect GFP-labeled cells and specific cell markers (vascular smooth muscle, endothelial, macrophage).
Main Results:
- GFP-labeled cells, originating from transplanted bone marrow, constituted 17% of the total cell population within the CNV lesion.
- A significant proportion of these GFP-labeled cells expressed markers for vascular smooth muscle cells (alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, NG2) and endothelial cells (CD31, BS-1 lectin).
- GFP-labeled cells were also found to express macrophage markers (F4/80) and were morphologically similar to resident cells in CNV lesions.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence that bone marrow-derived progenitor cells are a significant source of cellular components in CNV.
- These progenitors differentiate into both endothelial and smooth muscle-like cells, contributing to the neovascular complex.
- The findings highlight the role of postnatal vasculogenesis, mediated by bone marrow progenitors, in the development of choroidal neovascularization.