Perivascular cell-specific knockout of the stem cell pluripotency gene Oct4 inhibits angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: The stem cell pluripotency factor Oct4 serves a critical protective role during atherosclerotic plaque development by promoting smooth muscle cell (SMC) investment. Here, we show using Myh11-CreER^T2 lineage-tracing with inducible SMC and pericyte (SMC-P) knockout of Oct4 that Oct4 regulates perivascular cell migration and recruitment during angiogenesis. Knockout of Oct4 in perivascular cells significantly impairs perivascular cell migration, increases perivascular cell death, delays endothelial cell migration, and promotes vascular leakage following corneal angiogenic stimulus. Knockout of Oct4 in perivascular cells also impairs perfusion recovery and decreases angiogenesis following hindlimb ischemia. Transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that expression of the migratory gene Sl

SUBMITTER: Hess DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6393549 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature