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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243722

Title: Signaling hierarchy regulating human endothelial cell development

Author
item KELLY, MELISSA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HIRSCHI, KAREN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2009
Publication Date: 5/1/2009
Citation: Kelly, M.A., Hirschi, K.K. 2009. Signaling hierarchy regulating human endothelial cell development. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 29(5):718-724.

Interpretive Summary: The unique mechanisms by which biological signals govern human endothelial cell development are unknown. These studies revealed the various signals that are needed for the development of human endothelial cells and blood vessels. Interestingly, the signals needed are different from those that regulated mouse vascular development, so the results will significantly contribute to the optimization of human clinical therapies.

Technical Abstract: Our present knowledge of the regulation of mammalian endothelial cell differentiation has been largely derived from studies of mouse embryonic development. However, unique mechanisms and hierarchy of signals that govern human endothelial cell development are unknown and, thus, explored in these studies. Using human embryonic stem cells as a model system, we were able to reproducibly and robustly generate differentiated endothelial cells via coculture on OP9 marrow stromal cells. We found that, in contrast to studies in the mouse, bFGF and VEGF had no specific effects on the initiation of human vasculogenesis. However, exogenous Ihh promoted endothelial cell differentiation, as evidenced by increased production of cells with cobblestone morphology that coexpress multiple endothelial-specific genes and proteins, form lumens, and exhibit DiI-AcLDL uptake. Inhibition of BMP signaling using Noggin or BMP4, specifically, using neutralizing antibodies suppressed endothelial cell formation; whereas, addition of rhBMP4 to cells treated with the hedgehog inhibitor cyclopamine rescued endothelial cell development. Our studies revealed that Ihh promoted human endothelial cell differentiation from pluripotent hES cells via BMP signaling, providing novel insights applicable to modulating human endothelial cell formation and vascular regeneration for human clinical therapies.