In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 6 ( 2017-03-21)
Abstract:
Endothelial cells form the inner surface of blood vessels, acting like a non-stick coating. In addition to making substances that keep blood from sticking to the vessel wall, endothelial cells generate compounds that relax the vessel, and prevent it from thickening. Endothelial cells also form capillaries, the smallest vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients for all tissues. A regenerating organ, or a bioengineered tissue, requires a system of capillaries and other microvessels. Thus, regenerative medicine could benefit from a knowledge of how to generate endothelial cells from pluripotent stem cells – cells that can “differentiate” to form almost any type of cell in the body. Wong, Matrone et al. have now used a cell fusion model (named heterokaryon) to track the changes in gene expression that occur as a pluripotent stem cell differentiates to ultimately become an endothelial cell. In this model, mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are fused to human endothelial cells. Over time the human endothelial cells drive gene expression in the ESCs toward that of endothelial cells. Wong, Matrone et al. discovered changes in gene expression in many genes that have not previously been described as involved in the differentiation of endothelial cells. When one of these genes – named Pou3f2 – was inactivated in ESCs, they could not be differentiated into endothelial cells. The absence of Pou3f2 also drastically impaired how blood vessels developed in zebrafish embryos. Thus the heterokaryon model can generate important information regarding the dynamic changes in gene expression that occur as a pluripotent cell differentiates to become an endothelial cell. This model may also be useful for discovering other genes that control the differentiation of other cell types.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.23588.018
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3
Permalink