Human monocyte-derived hemangioma-like endothelial cells: evidence from an in vitro study
Jun Jia1, Xin Huang, Wen-Feng Zhang
1Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering, Ministry of Education (KLOBM), Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Background:
Hemangiomas are highly prevalent in newborns and infants and can lead to severe complications. However, the pathogenesis of hemangiomas is still unknown. This study was designed to examine the potential of human monocytes to differentiate into hemangioma endothelial cells.
Methods:
Purified monocytes from adult human peripheral blood were cultured under a conditional culture environment supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Cells cultured for 2 weeks were subjected to histological and immunochemical examinations in order to determine the expression of specific markers for hemangioma endothelial cells.
Results:
Monocytes cultured for 2 weeks in angiogenic medium expressed human erythrocyte-type glucose transporter protein, FcgammaRII, and several other endothelial markers, all of which are deemed specific markers for hemangioma endothelial cells. However, neither CD133 nor alpha smooth muscle actin was detected in our monocyte culture.
Conclusion:
Our data suggested that monocytes are capable of differentiating into hemangioma endothelial cells under the angiogenic stimulation from microenvironment of proliferative hemangioma.
