Adipose tissue progenitor cells directly interact with endothelial cells to induce vascular network formation.

ABSTRACT: Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) express markers and functional properties of pericytes in vitro and, in combination with endothelial cells (ECs), are able to establish multilayer functional vessels in vivo. However, the factors that coordinate EC-ASC communications to promote migration of these cells toward one another, and their heterotypic assembly into vascular structures are not well defined. To understand the mechanisms of EC-ASC interaction, we developed an in vitro model of coculturing ECs with ASCs in a system containing serum but no additional exogenous cytokines or extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We demonstrated that ASCs have a profound potential to stimulate morphogenesis of ECs into branching networks of cord structures. The vascular networks developed in 6 days and were sta

SUBMITTER: Merfeld-Clauss S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2928048 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature