Open AccessPericytes display increased CCN2 expression upon culturing
Author(s) -
Shiwen Xu,
Rajkumar Vineeth,
Denton Christopher P.,
Leask Andrew,
Abraham David J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cell communication and signaling
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1873-961X
pISSN - 1873-9601
DOI - 10.1007/s12079-009-0053-7
Subject(s) - ctgf , fibroblast , microbiology and biotechnology , fibronectin , pericyte , connective tissue , myofibroblast , extracellular matrix , wound healing , biology , phenotype , population , pathology , immunology , cell culture , in vitro , growth factor , fibrosis , endothelial stem cell , medicine , gene , genetics , receptor , environmental health
By providing a source of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA)‐expressing myofibroblasts, microvascular pericytes contribute to the matrix remodeling that occurs during tissue repair. However, the extent to which pericytes may contribute to the fibroblast phenotype post‐repair is unknown. In this report, we test whether pericytes isolated from human placenta can in principle become fibroblast‐like. Pericytes were cultured in vitro for 11 passages. The Affymetrix mRNA expression profile of passage 2 and passage 11 pericytes was compared. The expression of type I collagen, thrombospondin and fibronectin mRNAs was induced by passaging pericytes in culture. This induction of a fibroblast phenotype was paralleled by induction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) and type I collagen protein expression and the fibroblast marker ASO2. These results indicate that, in principle, pericytes have the capacity to become fibroblast‐like and that pericytes may contribute to the population of fibroblasts in a healed wound.