Project description:Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are circulating endothelial precursors shown to incorporate into foci of neovascularisation. Herein, we describe phenotypic characteristics of an EPC sub-type called endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). Peripheral blood-isolated ECFCs expressed endothelial and progenitor surface antigens and displayed cobblestone-patterned colonies with clonal proliferative and angiogenic capacities in vitro. ECFCs demonstrated endothelial cell-like shear stress responses including cell alignment and PECAM-1 expression. Proteomic comparison with an endothelial reference population (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) confirmed a similar proteomic profile. Hierarchical clustering revealed two distinct ECFC clusters with differences in cell growth, proliferation and angiogenesis capacities. The cluster with compromised functionality was also associated with elevated blood pressure and impaired lipid profile. Our findings described an endothelial-like phenotype of blood-derived ECFCs with distinctive proteomic signatures based on cellular and clinical characteristics. ECFCs may aid in identifying novel mechanisms associated with cardiovascular disease risk and new targets to enhance angiogenesis.
Project description:Single-cell RNA-seq (10X Genomics Chromium) to profile of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), cardiac and endothelial progenitor cells (CPC and EPC) and CardioCluster
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
