Discovery of a chemical small molecule inducing umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell differentiation to vascular endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for clinical applications in vascular disease therapy and in the in vitro modeling of vascular regeneration. However, the translational potential of hUC-MSCs requires direct differentiation into functional vascular lineage cells, particularly vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). A critical challenge is the lack of reliable sources that yield sufficient quantities of mature VECs/EPCs for therapeutic purposes. To address this limitation, we established an efficient protocol for generating VECs from hUC-MSCs. Preconditioning hUC-MSCs using small molecules with cytoprotective properties can enhance their potential for use in cell-based therapeutics. Through systemat

SUBMITTER: Zhou B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12811175 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature