Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells acquire endothelial-like features upon reprogramming with SOX18

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Biology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are a valuable source for autologous cell therapies.
• Improving ASC function for cardiovascular repair may involve inducing an endothelial phenotype.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the direct reprogramming of ASCs into an endothelial lineage using SOX18.
• To assess the functional endothelial-like characteristics acquired by reprogrammed ASCs.

Main Methods:

• Ectopic expression of the endothelial transcription factor SOX18 in ASCs.
• Analysis of gene expression related to vascular patterning (MMP7, KDR, EFNB2, SEMA3G, CXCR4).
• Assessment of cellular behavior under shear stress, VEGF-induced chemotaxis, and 3D matrix tubule formation.

Main Results:

• SOX18 induction led to the expression of key vascular patterning genes in ASCs.
• SOX18-transduced ASCs demonstrated reorganization under shear stress.
• Reprogrammed ASCs exhibited VEGF-induced chemotaxis and formed MMP7-dependent tubular structures in 3D matrices.

Conclusions:

• Direct reprogramming of ASCs with SOX18 is sufficient to induce multiple endothelial-like features in vitro.
• This strategy provides insights into SOX18 downstream molecular and cellular effects.
• SOX18-mediated reprogramming holds potential for enhancing ASCs in regenerative medicine applications.