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Combinatorial platform for optimizing microenvironments to control the fate of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for application in vascular tissue engineering
Author(s) -
Wang Hua,
Li YiChen,
Chien Shu
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1232-b
Subject(s) - extracellular matrix , mesenchymal stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , tissue engineering , chemistry , stem cell , cell fate determination , dna microarray , biomedical engineering , biology , gene expression , biochemistry , genetics , medicine , transcription factor , gene
In this study, a novel combinatorial platform based on extracellular matrix (ECM) protein microarray are explored and applied for the controlled manipulation of the fate of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). ECM microarrays, each composed of ~100 ECM protein spots, are printed onto microscope slides coated with polyacrylamide gel pads using standard robotic DNA spotting technology. hMSCs are cultured on top of ECM microarrays with commercially available multi‐well silicone gaskets, which allow us to expose each array to different soluble factors. In addition, hMSCs cultured on ECM microarrays are exposed to shear stress (10–20 dyn/cm2) generated by fluid flow. Thus combinatorial effects of insoluble ECM substrates, soluble cues and biomechanical factors can be examined. Data on cell differentiation and proliferation are acquired from readouts of expression of fluorescent reporters of specific endothelial lineage markers such as Flk1 and PECAM1, as well as DNA content to monitor growth. In summary, this study has allowed the systematic exposure of hMSCs to different combinations of ECM substrates, soluble cues and shear stress. This technology has been used to determine the optimal conditions for the control of hMSC fate in terms of proliferation and differentiation into endothelial cells.