| Abstract: | Since the discovery of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), the native identity andlocalization of MSCs have been obscured by their retrospectiveisolation in culture. Recently, using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), we andother researchers prospectively identified and purified three subpopulations ofmultipotent precursor cells associated with the vasculature of human skeletal muscle.These three cell populations: myogenic endothelial cells (MECs), pericytes (PCs), andadventitial cells (ACs), are localized respectively to the three structural layers ofblood vessels: intima, media, and adventitia. All of these human blood-vessel-derived stemcell (hBVSC) populations not only express classic MSC markers but also possess mesodermaldevelopmental potentials similar to typical MSCs. Previously, MECs, PCs, and ACs have beenisolated through distinct protocols and subsequently characterized in separate studies.The current isolation protocol, through modifications to the isolation process andadjustments in the selective cell surface markers, allows us to simultaneously purify allthree hBVSC subpopulations by FACS from a single human muscle biopsy. This new method willnot only streamline the isolation of multiple BVSC subpopulations but also facilitatefuture clinical applications of hBVSCs for distinct therapeutic purposes. |
