EphrinB2 in dental pulp stem cells promotes endothelial cells forming capillary-like cords in a 3D bioprinted hydrogel construct.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We fabricated a pre-vascularized bioprinted hydrogel construct via coculture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to investigate the role of ephrinB2 in 3D capillary-like cord self-assemble.

Materials and methods

After bioprinting gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels, we performed a morphology observation of the inside capillary-like cords, quantitative analysis of branch points and cord length, and examination of pericyte markers in DPSCs. Next, we assessed the influence of DPSCs: HUVECs ratio and degree of functionalization (DoF) of GelMA on the cord formation. To investigate the role of ephrinB2, we used either EphB4/ephrinB2 inhibitor peptide, or knocked down or upregulated ephrinB2 in DPSCs, and evaluated the

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12570424 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature