胚胎干细胞分化为血管内皮细胞的分子调控机制

胚胎干细胞在不同的诱导条件下具有多向分化的潜能,多种胞内外信号途径参与其分化过程的调控。现就胚胎干细胞向血管内皮细胞分化的诱导条件及分子机制做一综述,并阐明不同阶段的内皮前体细胞所表达的不同分子标志,同时提出胚胎干细胞在再生医学中的应用前景。     

HIF-2α诱导MSCs向内皮细胞分化的机制

缺氧诱导因子-2（hypoxia—inducible factor-2,HIF-2）是一种转录因子。其主要活性作用部位是HIF-2α亚基,与HIF-10L有高度同源性,但二者在基因调节中有不同的作用,HIF-2α能优先表达某些靶基因如EPO、IGF、VEGFR等,是近年来研究较热门的一种促血管新生因子。骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchy—real stem cells,MSCs）向内皮细胞分化、促进血管新生及管腔形成在很大程度上取决于HIF-2α的调节作用,此调节过程主要依赖于VEGF／VEGFR信号途径。     

间充质干细胞分化为内皮细胞的意义和细胞学基础

间充质干细胞(mesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)主要存在于骨髓中,是多潜能干细胞,在脐血、外周血、脂肪、皮肤等多种组织中也相继分离出MSCs。MSCs具有独特的免疫特性,在异种异体环境内长期存在,使其临床应用前景更为广泛。目前,MSCs的分离培养、诱导分化及鉴定体系已趋成熟,理论上可分化为所有中胚层来源的细胞,内皮细胞来源于中胚层,因此MSCs具有分化为内皮细胞的可能性。本文对MSCs内皮分化意义和细胞学基础及其新近的研究进展作一综述。     

Tie-2单克隆抗体鉴定人骨髓间充质干细胞体外定向诱导分化的内皮细胞

目的:体外扩增和定向诱导成人骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)向内皮细胞分化,并探讨其可行性和条件.方法:利用Percoll(1 073 g/L)从正常成人骨髓中分离MSCs,用含10?S的LG-DMEM培养基进行纯化和扩增培养,流式细胞仪分析鉴定MSCs的纯度.用含VEGF(10μg/L)的HGDMEM培养基诱导MSCs向内皮细胞定向分化,Tie-2单克隆抗体的免疫组化法和透射电镜(TEM)鉴定其细胞的性质.结果:5.0×105个MSCs在体外扩增15代后,获得了8.0×1012个MSCs,扩增了约1.6×107倍.加入诱导培养体系培养14～21 d,光镜下可观察到内皮细胞呈典型的"鹅卵石"样:90%的细胞Tie-2免疫组化呈阳性反应;TEM下可观察到胞浆内有Weible-palade小体.结论:成人骨髓MSCs在体外具有定向诱导分化为内皮细胞的潜能,为构建心脏组织工程瓣种子细胞的来源提供了可能性.     

间充质干细胞向内皮细胞的分化及其在血管组织工程中的应用

利用间充质干细胞(menchymal stem cells,MSCs)的多向分化能力,将其诱导成为内皮细胞(endothelial cells,ECs),可解决血管组织工程中自体血管细胞作为种子细胞所面临的细胞来源及成体细胞增殖能力有限的问题.MSCs可从多种组织中分离获得,目前应用于血管组织工程的3种MSCs主要源于骨髓、脂肪和肌肉.MSCs的分化可由多种刺激触发,在其向ECs的分化过程中生长因子、支架性质和机械应力等因素起着重要的作用.而以MSCs分化为ECs为基础的组织工程血管在动物模型中展现出促血管生成能力和良好的通畅性,但目前其在临床上的应用较少,需进一步研究,并有许多问题仍待探究.     

脑内皮细胞与神经干细胞共培养促进神经干细胞的迁移

近些年来,人们发现神经发生和血管发生间有着密切的联系,并逐渐开始关注内皮细胞对神经干细胞（NSCs）的影响。人们发现内皮细胞对NSCs的自我更新、分化、迁移有着重要的调节作用,而NSCs对内皮细胞也有促血管形成的作用。有研究报道,内皮细胞具有分泌VEGF、BDNF、SDF-1等因子的功能,内皮细胞是否通过其分泌的因子对NSCs的迁移进行调节,     

登革热2型病毒感染人内皮细胞的机制

登革热病毒(DEN)通过两种机制感染宿主细胞,即与病毒IgG形成复合物结合于Fc受体,或是病毒糖蛋白直接与宿主细胞特异性受体结合。第一种机制已做研究,发现登革热出血/休克综合征的病毒滴度的增高与这种IgG-Fc介导的抗体增高有关,而对第二种机制的研究较少,且一直未发现DEN的宿主细胞受体。     

oxLDL对血管内皮细胞的损伤机制

天然的低密度脂蛋白(LDL)经氧化修饰形成氧化低密度脂蛋白(oxLDL).天然LDL核心的脂肪酸中含有大量不饱和脂肪酸,约占LDL总脂肪酸含量的35-70%,所以容易发生自身氧化.oxLDL具有一系列生物学毒性作用,氧化修饰后的LDL不能经LDL受体代谢,由清道夫受体识别、结合、内吞饮入细胞并逃逸正常的胆固醇代谢途径,引起细胞内脂质沉积,泡沫样变.oxLDL引发动脉粥样硬化的机制之一就是损伤血管内皮细胞,因此细胞损伤机制的进一步阐明将为改善内皮细胞功能和治疗动脉粥样硬化提供新的思路.     

分子影像监测血管内皮细胞生长因子预处理促进体外和体内脂肪间充质干细胞存活与增殖的研究

干细胞疗法为缺血性心血管病的组织再生带来希望,然而体内移植后干细胞的不良转归严重制约了其治疗效果.研究表明,血管内皮细胞生长因子(vascular endotllelial growth factor,VEGF)或可对干细胞产生保护作用;同时,分子影像可作为干细胞研究的有力手段,实现体内外干细胞生物学过程的可视化与实时...     

登革2型病毒结合血管内皮细胞分子机制的初步研究

以ECV304细胞为对象分析登革病毒感染血管内皮细胞的机制。2型登革病毒(DEN2)吸附后微量蚀斑法测定ECV304细胞上清释放的病毒滴度,证实该细胞对DEN2感染有一定的敏感性。机械刮取或胰蛋白酶消化法收集ECV304细胞分离膜蛋白,SDS—PAGE见胰酶处理样品缺失一43 kDa的膜蛋白。将ECV304细胞膜蛋白与^35S—Met标记的DEN2进行病毒重叠蛋白结合试验(VOPBA),有29、34和43kDa的3种膜蛋白可与DV结合,其中29 kDa的蛋白对胰酶耐受。培养的ECV304细胞中加入重组E蛋白(rEgp)对DEN2吸附进行阻断试验,微量蚀斑法与间接免疫荧光表明rEgp抑制DEN2感染该细胞。VOPBA中rEgp可阻断病毒与细胞膜蛋白的结合。结果表明ECV304细胞表面可能存在29、34、43 kDa的3种与DEN2结合的相关蛋白,DEN2E蛋白可直接介导DV感染血管内皮细胞。     

Conversion of vascular endothelial cells into multipotent stem-like cells

Mesenchymal stem cells can give rise to several cell types, but varying results depending on isolation methods and tissue source have led to controversies about their usefulness in clinical medicine. Here we show that vascular endothelial cells can transform into multipotent stem-like cells by an activin-like kinase-2 (ALK2) receptor-dependent mechanism. In lesions from individuals with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a disease in which heterotopic ossification occurs as a result of activating ALK2 mutations, or from transgenic mice expressing constitutively active ALK2, chondrocytes and osteoblasts expressed endothelial markers. Lineage tracing of heterotopic ossification in mice using a Tie2-Cre construct also suggested an endothelial origin of these cell types. Expression of constitutively active ALK2 in endothelial cells caused endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and acquisition of a stem cell-like phenotype. Similar results were obtained by treatment of untransfected endothelial cells with the ligands transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) or bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) in an ALK2-dependent manner. These stem-like cells could be triggered to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes or adipocytes. We suggest that conversion of endothelial cells to stem-like cells may provide a new approach to tissue engineering.     

Dll4-selective Notch signaling induces ephrinB2 gene expression in endothelial cells

The Notch pathway is involved in multiple aspects of vascular development, including arterial-venous differentiation. Here, we show that Notch stimulation instructively induces arterial characteristics in endothelial cells (EC). Forced expression of Notch intracellular domain (NICD, activated form of Notch) induced mRNA expression for a subset of arterial-specific markers such as ephrinB2, connexin40, and HERP1 only in EC but not other cell lines. In co-culture experiments using EC and either Dll4- or Jagged1-expressing cells, we found that Dll4 stimulation but not Jagged1 markedly induced ephrinB2 expression. An inducible expression of HERP1 and HERP2 by NICD has no measurable effects on expression of ephrinB2 and venous marker EphB4 although either HERP1 or HERP2 overexpression exerts potent inhibitory effects on EphB4 expression without ephrinB2 induction. We also found no functional interaction between Notch and TGF-beta-ALK1 signalings in an induction of ephrinB2 expression. These results suggest that Dll4-stimulated Notch signaling induces a part of arterial characteristics only in EC via HERP-independent mechanism. Our data provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of ligand-selective Notch activation during differentiation of arterial EC.     

Effects of shear stress on differentiation of stem cells into endothelial cells

Stem cell transplantation is an appealing potential therapy for vascular diseases and an indispensable key step in vascular tissue engineering. Substantial effort has been made to differentiate stem cells toward vascular cell phenotypes, including endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells. The microenvironment of vascular cells not only contains biochemical factors that influence differentiation but also exerts hemodynamic forces, such as shear stress and cyclic strain. More recently, studies have shown that shear stress can influence the differentiation of stem cells toward ECs. A deep understanding of the responses and underlying mechanisms involved in this process is essential for clinical translation. This review highlights current data supporting the role of shear stress in stem cell differentiation into ECs. Potential mechanisms and signaling cascades for transducing shear stress into a biological signal are proposed. Further study of stem cell responses to shear stress will be necessary to apply stem cells for pharmacological applications and cardiovascular implants in the realm of regenerative medicine.     

Hypoxia-induced Bcl-2 expression in endothelial cells via p38 MAPK pathway

Angiogenesis and apoptosis are reciprocal processes in endothelial cells. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, has been found to have angiogenic activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Bcl-2 in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in endothelial cells and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were exposed to hypoxia followed by reoxygenation. Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion mouse model was used and Bcl-2 expression was assessed. Bcl-2 expression increased in a time-dependent manner in response to hypoxia from 2 to 72 h. Peak expression occurred at 12 h (3- to 4-fold, p < 0.05). p38 inhibitor (SB203580) blocked hypoxia-induced Bcl-2 expression, whereas PKC, ERK1/2 and PI3K inhibitors did not. Knockdown of Bcl-2 resulted in decreased HAECs’ proliferation and migration. Over-expression of Bcl-2 increased HAECs’ tubule formation, whereas knockdown of Bcl-2 inhibited this process. In this model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, Bcl-2 expression was increased and was associated with increased p38 MAPK activation.Our results showed that hypoxia induces Bcl-2 expression in HAECs via p38 MAPK pathway.     

Transformation of fibroblasts into endothelial cells during angiogenesis

Light-and electron-microscopic autoradiography have been used to study fibroblast transformation into endothelial cells in the formation of new blood vessels during wound healing in rabbit ear chambers. When cultured fibroblasts labeled with tritium thymidine were transplanted autologously into the chambers, newly formed blood vessels contained endothelial cells labeled with tritium thymidine. This result suggests that fibroblasts play a pivotal role in angiogenesis, as progenitors of endothelial cells in newly formed blood vessels.     

eNOS, COX-2, and prostacyclin production are impaired in endothelial cells from diabetics

The vascular endothelium is a well-recognized target of damage for factors leading to increased cardiovascular risk. Among the agents playing an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis, nitric oxide and prostacyclin represent key markers of endothelial integrity. In the present work, we report for the first time the reduced expression of both endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins, as well as decreased prostacyclin production, in unstimulated human endothelial cells from insulin-dependent diabetic mothers when compared to cells from non-diabetic, control subjects. According to a major role of COX-2 as a source of prostacyclin production even in unstimulated endothelial cells, prostacyclin production was concentration-dependently inhibited by the selective COX-2 inhibitor SC236. Overall, our results suggest a possible link between reduced endothelial COX-2 and NO-synthase expression and the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases affecting diabetic patients, and point to the use of endothelial cells from diabetic patients as a tool for investigating early dysfunction in pathological endothelium.     

DNA methyltransferase inhibition induces mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation into endothelial cells

Understanding endothelial cell (EC) differentiation is a step forward in tissue engineering, controlling angiogenesis, and endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that epigenetic activation of EC lineage specification genes is an important mediator of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation into EC. Mouse ESC was differentiated by removing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) from the maintenance media in the presence or absence of the specific DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor 5′-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (aza-dC). Expression of EC specification and marker genes was monitored by quantitative PCR, western, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. Functionality of differentiated EC was assessed by angiogenesis assay. The methylation status in the proximal promoter CpGs of the mediators of EC differentiation VEGF-A, BMP4, and EPAS-1 as well as of the mature EC marker VE-cadherin was determined by bisulfite sequencing. ESC differentiation resulted in repression of OCT4 expression in both the absence and presence of aza-dC treatment. However, significant increase in angiogenesis and expression of the mediators of EC differentiation and EC-specific genes was only observed in aza-dC-treated cells. The DNMT inhibition-mediated increase in EC specification and marker gene expression was not associated with demethylation of these genes. These studies suggest that DNMT inhibition is an efficient inducer of EC differentiation from ESC.     

Chemotherapy regimens induce inhibitory immune checkpoint protein expression on stem-like and senescent-like oesophageal adenocarcinoma cells

Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with chemotherapy to enhance responses in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is an attractive approach. We identified subpopulations of OAC cells expressing inhibitory immune checkpoint (IC) ligands (PD-L1, PD-L2 and CD160) and receptors (PD-1, TIGIT, TIM-3, LAG-3 and A2aR) in vitro and in ex vivo biopsies. Combination chemotherapy regimens FLOT and CROSS promote a more immune-resistant phenotype through upregulation of IC ligands and receptors on OAC cells in vitro. Importantly, this study investigated if OAC cells, enriched for ICs exhibited a more stem-like and senescent-like phentoype. FLOT preferentially upregulates PD-L1 on a stem-like OAC cell phenotype, defined by ALDH activity. Expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase is induced in a subpopulation of OAC cells following FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy treatment, along with enhanced expression of TIM-3 and A2aR ICs. Blockade of PD-1 signalling in OAC cells induced apoptosis and enhanced FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy toxicity in vitro. Upregulation of ICs on OAC cells following chemotherapy may represent potential mechanisms of chemo-immune resistance. Combination ICIs may be required to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in OAC patients.     

Characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in aged mice

Evidence for dysfunction of endothelial repair in aged mice was sought by studying the pattern of induced differentiation, quantity, and function of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in aged mice. The CD117-positive stem cell population was separated from bone marrow by magnetic activated cell-sorting system (MACS), and EPCs were defined by demonstrating the expression of CD117+CD34+Flk-1+ by flow cytometry. After 7 days of culture, the number of clones formed was counted, and proliferation and migration of EPCs were analyzed by MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay and modified Boyden chamber assay. The results demonstrated that compared to the control group, the quantity of bone marrow-derived CD117+ stem cells and EPCs, as well as the proliferation, migration, the number of clones formed, and phagocytotic function of EPCs were significantly reduced in aged mice. There were no significant differences in the morphology and induced differentiation pattern of EPCs between the aged mouse group and the control group. Authors suggest that the dysfunction of EPCs may serve as a surrogate parameter of vascular function in old mice.