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Induction of Endothelial Differentiation in Cardiac Progenitor Cells Under Low Serum Conditions
Published on: January 7, 2019
Cardiac side population cells exhibit endothelial differentiation potential
Jihyun Yoon1, Seung Cheol Choi, Chi Yeon Park
1Department of Cardiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
Insights
Cardiac side population (SP) cells show potential for endothelial differentiation. These cardiac SP cells may aid in regenerating injured heart tissue by becoming new blood vessels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Side population (SP) cells from adult myocardium are cardiac progenitor cells.
- Limited information exists on cardiac SP cell characteristics and endothelial potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the endothelial differentiation potential of cardiac SP cells.
- To compare cardiac SP cells with bone marrow-derived SP cells.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of gene expression (cardiac and endothelial markers).
- In vitro endothelial differentiation of cardiac SP cells with VEGF treatment.
- In vivo assessment of cardiac SP cell transplantation in a murine myocardial infarction model.
Main Results:
- Cardiac SP cells expressed higher levels of cardiac and endothelial markers than bone marrow SP cells.
- VEGF-induced differentiation of cardiac SP cells into endothelial cells (von Willebrand factor positive).
- Significant improvement in blood flow recovery in transplanted mice.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac SP cells possess endothelial differentiation potential.
- Cardiac SP cells may contribute to cardiac tissue regeneration through transdifferentiation into angiogenic lineages.
Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that side population (SP) cells, isolated from adult myocardium, represent a distinct cardiac progenitor cell population that exhibits functional cardiomyogenic differentiation. However, information on the intrinsic characteristics and endothelial potential, of cardiac SP cells, is limited. The present study was designed to investigate whether cardiac SP cells exhibit endothelial differentiation potential. The cardiac SP cells more highly expressed the early cardiac transcription factors as well as endothelial cell markers compared to the bone marrow-SP cells. After treatment with VEGF, for 28 days, cardiac SP cells were able to differentiate into endothelial cells expressing von Willebrand factor as determined by immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, expression of endothelial cell markers increased several-fold in VEGF-treated cardiac SP cells compared to the control group when assessed by real-time PCR. We also confirmed that cardiac SP cells provided a significantly augmented ratio of ischemic/normal blood flow, in the cardiac SP cell-transplanted group compared with saline-treated controls on postoperative days 7, 14, 21 and 28, in a murine model. These results show that cardiac SP cells may contribute to regeneration of injured heart tissues partly by transdifferentiation into angiogenic lineages.
