Hypoxia induced the differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the origin and differentiation mechanism of coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (CoSMCs) is very important to cardiovascular biology. The early cardiovascular system is formed in a hypoxic microenvironment, and Tbx18-positive epicardial cells are a source of CoSMCs. However, the effects of hypoxia on the differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs and the primary regulatory mechanism are insufficiently understood. Using Tbx18:Cre/R26R(EYFP/LacZ) fate-tracing mice, we cultured highly purified Tbx18-positive epicardial cells. We further showed that hypoxia induced Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to differentiate into CoSMCs and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of the cells in vitro. The induction of differentiation was primarily ac

SUBMITTER: Jing X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4960593 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature