Transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts to endothelial cells: role of innate immunity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cell fate is fluid and may be altered experimentally by the forced expression of master regulators mediating cell lineage. Such reprogramming has been achieved with the use of viral vectors encoding transcription factors. We recently discovered that the viral vectors are more than passive vehicles for transcription factors because they participate actively in the process of nuclear reprogramming to pluripotency by increasing epigenetic plasticity. On the basis of this recognition, we hypothesized that small-molecule activators of toll-like receptor 3, together with external microenvironmental cues that drive endothelial cell (EC) specification, might be sufficient to induce transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into ECs (induced ECs).

Methods and results

We show tha

SUBMITTER: Sayed N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4309381 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature