Project description:In this study, we directly reprogram adult human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) into reprogrammed ECs (rECs) by overexpressing SOX17 in conjunction with ETV2. The rECs are capable of emulating in vitro and in vivo EC functions better than cells reprogrammed with ETV2 alone, such as improved reprogramming efficiency, enriched in more EC genes, and form large blood vessels carrying blood from the host, and most importantly, start to express eNOS in vivo. From these results, we present an improved method to reprogram adult fibroblasts into functional ECs and posit ideas for the future that could potentially further improve the reprogramming process.
Project description:Although the generation of ETV2-induced endothelial cells (iECs) from human fibroblasts serves as a novel therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine, the process is inefficient, resulting in incomplete iEC angiogenesis. Therefore, we employed ChIP-sequencing and identified molecular mechanisms underlying ETV2-mediated endothelial transdifferentiation to efficiently produce iECs retaining appropriate functionality in long-term culture. We revealed that the majority of ETV2 targets in human fibroblasts are related to vasculature development and signaling transduction pathways including Rap1 signaling. From a screening of signaling pathway modulators, we confirmed that forskolin facilitated efficient and rapid iEC reprogramming via activation of cAMP/EPAC/RAP1 axis. The iECs obtained via cAMP signaling activation showed superior angiogenesis in vivo as well as in vitro. Moreover, these cells could form aligned endothelium along the vascular lumen ex vivo when seeded into decellularized liver scaffold. Overall, our study provided evidence that cAMP/EPAC/RAP1 axis is required for the efficient generation of iECs with angiogenesis potential.
Project description:Although the generation of ETV2-induced endothelial cells (iECs) from human fibroblasts serves as a novel therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine, the process is inefficient, resulting in incomplete iEC angiogenesis. Therefore, we employed ChIP-sequencing and identified molecular mechanisms underlying ETV2-mediated endothelial transdifferentiation to efficiently produce iECs retaining appropriate functionality in long-term culture. We revealed that the majority of ETV2 targets in human fibroblasts are related to vasculature development and signaling transduction pathways including Rap1 signaling. From a screening of signaling pathway modulators, we confirmed that forskolin facilitated efficient and rapid iEC reprogramming via activation of cAMP/EPAC/RAP1 axis. The iECs obtained via cAMP signaling activation showed superior angiogenesis in vivo as well as in vitro. Moreover, these cells could form aligned endothelium along the vascular lumen ex vivo when seeded into decellularized liver scaffold. Overall, our study provided evidence that cAMP/EPAC/RAP1 axis is required for the efficient generation of iECs with angiogenesis potential.
Project description:ETV2 induces expression of endothelial-specific genes in primary human adult skin fibroblasts (HAFs) Human unbillical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are used as a control 32 days after ETV2 induction into HAFs, cells are recognized as ETVECs. ETVECs were created from three independent skin donor. Each number of ETVEC is correspond to the number of HAF.
Project description:Samples 1-6: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. A significant number of genes related with vessel development and angiogenesis was significantly upregulated in KDR+ cells, compared to control HDFs. These findings strongly argue that ER71/ETV2 directly reprograms human fibroblasts to functional endothelial-like cells, which could be useful for disease investigation as well as autologous cell therapy. Samples 7-12: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells were further cultured up to day 93. The further cultured cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. A significant number of genes related with vessel development and angiogenesis was significantly upregulated in the further cultured cells, compared to control HDFs. These findings strongly argue that ER71/ETV2 directly reprograms human fibroblasts to functional endothelial-like cells, which could be useful for disease investigation as well as autologous cell therapy. Samples 1-6: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. Samples 7-12: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells were further cultured up to day 93. The further cultured cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling.
Project description:ETV2 induces expression of endothelial-specific genes in primary human adult skin fibroblasts (HAFs) Human unbillical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are used as a control
Project description:Transcriptome analysis of of control inhibitor and miR200b inhibitor transfected Human Dermal Adult Fibroblasts (HDAF) compared with Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC). Injury induced inhibition of miR200b induces angiogenesis at the wound edges which help in the healing process. We have characterised the effect of miR200b suppression in Human Adult Dermal Fibroblasts converts to endothelial cells through transcriptional profiling. In this dataset, we include the expression data obtained from control inhibitor and miR200b inhibitor transfected Human Dermal Adult Fibroblasts, as well as Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC) as positive control.
Project description:We describe a so far uncharacterized, embryonic and self-renewing Neural Plate Border Stem Cell (NBSC) population with the capacity to differentiate into central nervous and neural crest lineages. NBSCs can be obtained by neural transcription factor-mediated reprogramming (BRN2, SOX2, KLF4, and ZIC3) of human adult dermal fibroblasts and peripheral blood cells (induced Neural Plate Border Stem Cells, iNBSCs) or by directed differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells (NBSCs). Moreover, human (i)NBSCs share molecular and functional features with an endogenous NBSC population isolated from neural folds of E8.5 mouse embryos. Upon differentiation, iNBSCs give rise to either (1) radial glia-type stem cells, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons, motoneurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes or (2) cells from the neural crest lineage. Here we provide array-based methylation data of iNBSCs reprogrammed from adult dermal fibroblasts (ADF), iPSC-derived NBSCs and adult dermal fibroblasts. The data provided demonstrate robust changes in the methylation landscape after reprogramming of human adult dermal fibroblasts into iNBSCs.
Project description:Analysis of ex vivo isolated lymphatic endothelial cells from the dermis of patients to define type 2 diabetes-induced changes. Results preveal aberrant dermal lymphangiogenesis and provide insight into its role in the pathogenesis of persistent skin inflammation in type 2 diabetes. The ex vivo dLEC transcriptome reveals a dramatic influence of the T2D environment on multiple molecular and cellular processes, mirroring the phenotypic changes seen in T2D affected skin. The positively and negatively correlated dLEC transcripts directly cohere to prolonged inflammatory periods and reduced infectious resistance of patients´ skin. Further, lymphatic vessels might be involved in tissue remodeling processes during T2D induced skin alterations associated with impaired wound healing and altered dermal architecture. Hence, dermal lymphatic vessels might be directly associated with T2D disease promotion. Global gene expression profile of normal dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (ndLECs) compared to dermal lymphatic endothelial cells derived from type 2 diabetic patients (dLECs).Quadruplicate biological samples were analyzed from human lymphatic endothelial cells (4 x diabetic; 4 x non-diabetic). subsets: 1 disease state set (dLECs), 1 control set (ndLECs)