Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhengpeng Wan, Shun Zhang, Amy X. Zhong, Sarah E. Shelton, Marco Campisi, Shriram K. Sundararaman, Giovanni S. Offeddu, Eunkyung Ko, Lina Ibrahim, Mark F. Coughlin, Tiankun Liu, Jing Bai, David A. Barbie, Roger D. Kamm
Summary: By exogenously expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and lung fibroblasts (FBs) were successfully immortalized, providing stable cell sources for functional microvascular network formation in vitro. It was observed that immortalized FBs expressing Thy1 could interact with immortalized HUVECs to form functional microvascular networks, while Thy1 negative FBs were found to physically block microvessel openings.
Review
Cell Biology
Mehdi Hassanpour, Amankeldi A. Salybekov, Shuzo Kobayashi, Takayuki Asahara
Summary: CD34 is a cell surface antigen expressed in stem/progenitor cells such as HSCs and EPCs, which are potential sources for regenerative therapy. CD34(+) cells have been shown to improve therapeutic angiogenesis through direct incorporation and paracrine activity. Preclinical, pilot, and clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of CD34(+) cell therapy in various diseases. However, the clinical application of CD34(+) cell therapy has sparked debates and controversies.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chikahiro Imashiro, Tetsuya Azuma, Shun Itai, Taiki Kuribara, Kiichiro Totani, Hiroaki Onoe, Kenjiro Takemura
Summary: In this study, it was found that ultrasound can promote vasculogenesis in vitro. The use of regulated ultrasound on three-dimensional-monocultured HUVECs clarified the effect of ultrasound on vasculogenesis, showing enhanced protein expression related to vasculogenesis and response to mechanical stress. This finding may be an innovation in the tissue engineering field.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Bright Asare-Bediako, Yvonne Adu-Agyeiwaah, Antonio Abad, Sergio Li Calzi, Jason L. Floyd, Ram Prasad, Mariana DuPont, Richmond Asare-Bediako, Xose R. Bustelo, Maria B. Grant
Summary: This study investigates the role of hematopoietic cells in the developing retina. The researchers found that hematopoietic cells are present in the retina as early as birth and are closely associated with blood vessels. Loss of the hematopoietic cell-specific protein Vav1 affects retinal vessel density and astrocyte inflammatory response.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hiba Asrar, Abigail S. Tucker
Summary: Major organs and tissues require close association with the vasculature during development and for later function. Recent research has revealed novel roles for endothelial cells in tissue morphogenesis and differentiation, highlighting the importance of providing a vasculature when constructing tissues and organs for tissue engineering. Important signaling pathways regulating the cross talk between endothelial cells and their environment have been identified in various organ systems.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Ghazaleh Hashemi, James Dight, Kiarash Khosrotehrani, Laura Sormani
Summary: Melanoma is an aggressive and potentially lethal form of skin cancer. The role of blood vessel formation, particularly endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), in melanoma is of significance. Understanding the role of EPCs is important for understanding the abnormal vessel structures in melanoma. The effect of anti-angiogenic drugs on melanoma treatment needs further research.
Article
Hematology
David M. Smadja, Elisa Rossi, Skerdi Haviari, Ivan Bieche, Audrey Cras, Pascale Gaussem
Summary: This study describes for the first time a link between PAR1, stemness, and vasculogenesis in human ECFCs. Silencing of PAR1 gene expression increased cell proliferation and postischemic revascularization in a mouse model of hind-limb ischemia.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lifang Luo, Bing Dong, Jianning Zhang, Yumin Qiu, Xiaolin Liu, Zhe Zhou, Jiang He, Xiaoyu Zhang, Long Chen, Wenhao Xia
Summary: SGLT2 inhibitors not only lower glucose levels, but also improve the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which leads to added vascular protection for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study found that dapagliflozin can restore the vasculogenic capacity of EPCs in diabetic patients by activating the AMPK signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Soo Jee Kim, Gihyun Lee, Je-Kyun Park
Summary: This study proposes a novel bioprinting technique using a supportive microstructured bioprinting substrate to enhance the structural fidelity of low-viscosity hydrogel constructs and replicate the biological vessel formation process. This technology could be applied to developing complex constructs using cytocompatible natural hydrogels.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sushant Parab, Elisa Setten, Elena Astanina, Federico Bussolino, Gabriella Doronzo
Summary: Endothelial cells (ECs) play a crucial role in organ function, participating in substance exchange and inducing tissue-specific cells. The molecular mechanisms regulating EC heterogeneity between tissues are established during embryogenesis and affected by aging, stress, and other factors. Specific transcription factors form dynamic networks that maintain heterogeneity and are regulated at the post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. This review outlines the transcription factor-based networks involved in EC specialization and stressors that modify their architecture.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Hyunsook Lee, Yang-Hoon Huh, Kyu-Tae Kang
Summary: This study investigated the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in enhancing the vasculogenic capacity of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) under high-glucose conditions. The researchers found that the combination of ECFCs and MSCs restored the decreased tube formation ability of ECFCs in high-glucose conditions. In vivo experiments using diabetic mice showed that the combined delivery of ECFCs and MSCs led to the formation of perfused blood vessels in diabetic ischemic regions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Oltra, Miriam Martinez-Santos, Maria Ybarra, Hugo Rowland, Maria Muriach, Javier Romero, Javier Sancho-Pelluz, Jorge M. Barcia
Summary: Extracellular vesicles are released from cells and play major roles in various diseases, including cancer. Recent research has shown that oxidative damage can promote the release of small extracellular vesicles from the retinal pigment epithelium, leading to changes in angiogenesis and miRNA levels. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-302a-3p, a specific miRNA found in these vesicles, in regulating angiogenesis in endothelial cell cultures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karin Farkas, Elisabetta Ferretti
Summary: In vitro modeling of human peri-gastrulation development provides insight into embryogenetic mechanisms. This study developed a protocol to generate ExM-like cells from a PrE-like cell line, and confirmed the derivation of ExM from PrE. The in vitro-produced ExM cells displayed angiogenic potential and showed similarity to ex utero cell populations, suggesting the utility of this culture system for investigating ExM during human peri-gastrulation development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maiko Sasaki, Yoonhee Jung, Paula North, Justin Elsey, Keith Choate, Michael Andrew Toussaint, Christina Huang, Rakan Radi, Adam J. Perricone, Victor G. Corces, Jack L. Arbiser
Summary: Mutations in GNAQ lead to vascular malformations, and introducing mutant GNAQ into murine endothelial cells resulted in progressive vascular malformations. The upregulation of C-Kit in the endothelial cells and its potential as a druggable target for Sturge-Weber syndrome were identified. Imatinib, an FDA-approved drug targeting C-Kit, showed effectiveness in reducing the size of vascular malformations in vivo.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Na Sun, Manolis Kellis
Summary: In this issue of Neuron, Meijer and Agirre et al. (2022) demonstrate that immune genes are primed in a chromatin state in healthy oligodendroglia and become transcriptionally activated in multiple sclerosis (MS) through a series of epigenetic activations, including histone modification deposition, transcription factor binding, and chromatin reconfiguration.