APJ regulates the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of vascular endothelial stem cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

CD157 marks a population of tissue-resident vascular endothelial stem cells (VESCs) in mice known for their critical role in homeostatic endothelial cell (EC) turnover and the rapid response to vascular damage in the liver by regeneration. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the maintenance and differentiation of postnatal VESCs under both physiological and pathological conditions remains unclear.

Methods

APJ knockout (KO) mice were utilized to explore the role of apelin/APJ signaling in VESC functionality. Flow cytometry, colony-forming unit assays, and in vitro differentiation experiments were conducted to characterize VESC populations. Partial hepatectomy (PHx) was performed to assess vascular regeneration.

Results

APJ deficiency led to an accumulatio

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12323185 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature