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Isolation of Murine Embryonic Hemogenic Endothelial Cells
Published on: June 17, 2016
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CD32 captures committed haemogenic endothelial cells during human embryonic development
Rebecca Scarfò1, Lauren N Randolph1, Monah Abou Alezz1
1San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Nature Cell Biology
|April 9, 2024
Summary
Researchers identified CD32 (FCGR2B) as a marker for haemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) in human embryos. This discovery enables precise isolation of HECs for efficient hematopoietic cell generation in vitro.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Hematopoiesis
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Blood cells originate from specialized endothelial cells called haemogenic endothelial cells (HECs).
- HECs are rare and transient in early human embryos, making them difficult to distinguish from other endothelial cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a reliable marker for isolating haemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) from human embryos.
- To understand the developmental trajectory of HECs and their commitment to hematopoiesis.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic analysis of human embryonic endothelial cells (28- to 32-day embryos).
- Functional assays using human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cells.
- Flow cytometry for identifying CD32 expression on endothelial cells.
Main Results:
- Fc receptor CD32 (FCGR2B) expression is highly enriched in endothelial cells containing HECs.
- CD32-positive (CD32+) endothelial cells exhibit robust multilineage hematopoietic potential.
- 90% of CD32+ endothelial cells were identified as bona fide HECs.
- FCGR2B expression marks an irreversible commitment point for HECs towards a hematopoietic fate.
Conclusions:
- CD32 is a precise marker for isolating HECs from human embryonic and pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells.
- This finding facilitates the efficient in vitro generation of hematopoietic cells.
