Vascular extracellular matrix and fibroblasts-coculture directed differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells toward smooth muscle-like cells for vascular tissue engineering.

ABSTRACT: Construction of an artificial vascular graft is widely considered a promising strategy in vascular tissue engineering. However, limited sources of functional vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain a major obstacle in vascular tissue engineering. In this study, we innovatively developed an approach to obtain functional VSMCs by onsite differentiating human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) directed by decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) and fibroblasts. The resulting cells and ECM-cells constructs were characterized by real time RT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, cell contractile functions, and migration capacity. Our results showed both ECM and fibroblasts induced MSCs differentiation toward VSMC-like cells with increased transcription of marker genes, upregula

SUBMITTER: Li N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11264340 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature