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Evaluation of Stem Cell Fate in Cultured Microvascular Networks
Author(s) -
Azimi Mohammad Sadegh,
Strong Amy,
Dutreil Maria,
Fishel Ryan,
Bunnell Bruce,
Murfee Walter Lee
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.949.2
Subject(s) - pericyte , stem cell , angiogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , endothelial stem cell , biology , adipose tissue , adult stem cell , ex vivo , pathology , chemistry , in vitro , medicine , cancer research , endocrinology , biochemistry
In vitro models of angiogenesis are valuable tools for understanding the underlying mechanisms and the pre‐clinical evaluation of therapies. Our laboratory recently introduced the rat mesentery culture model as a new tool for investigating the mechanistic cell–cell interactions at specific locations across intact blood and lymphatic microvascular networks ex vivo. One potential application of the model is its use to screen the fate of exogenously delivered stem cells. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of aging on exogenously delivered human stem cell differentiation into pericytes along capillaries using angiogenesis in cultured microvascular networks. DiI‐labeled stem cells were seeded onto the harvested adult Wistar rat mesenteric tissues and cultured in alpha‐MEM+1% serum for up to five days according to four experimental groups: 1) adult human adipose‐derived stem cells (hASCs), 2) aged hASCs, 3) adult human bone marrow‐derived stem cells (hBMSCs), and 4) aged hBMSCs. Lectin labeling of endothelial cells on different time points enabled simultaneous visualization of blood vessels. Angiogenesis per experimental group was supported by observation of increased vessel density and capillary sprouting. For each tissue per experimental group, a subset of cells was observed in typical pericyte location wrapped along blood capillaries (Adult hASC=4.96±1.58; Aged hASC=4.51±1.07; Aged hBMSC=20.63±5.46; Adult hBMSC=7.13±1.73). Stem cell differentiation into pericytes was supported by the adoption of typical elongated pericyte morphology along endothelial cells and positive NG2 labeling. The percentage of cells in pericyte location was significantly increased for the Aged hBMSC group compared to the Adult hBMSC and hASC groups. Our results highlight the potential effect of aging on stem cell type specific differentiation during angiogenesis and showcase the application of rat mesentery culture model for evaluating stem cell fate.