VEGF induces differentiation of functional endothelium from human embryonic stem cells: implications for tissue engineering.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) offer a sustainable source of endothelial cells for therapeutic vascularization and tissue engineering, but current techniques for generating these cells remain inefficient. We endeavored to induce and isolate functional endothelial cells from differentiating hESCs.

Methods and results

To enhance endothelial cell differentiation above a baseline of approximately 2% in embryoid body (EB) spontaneous differentiation, 3 alternate culture conditions were compared. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment of EBs showed the best induction, with markedly increased expression of endothelial cell proteins CD31, VE-Cadherin, and von Willebrand Factor, but not the hematopoietic cell marker CD45. CD31 expression peaked around days

SUBMITTER: Nourse MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2814336 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature