Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into endothelial cells through Flk1-expressing mesoderm progenitor cells / 国际生物医学工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To master the technique of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiate into endothelial cells,which would be a new therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disease.Methods Expression of selfrenewal marker genes in E 14 cells was assessed.Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (Flk 1) in monolayer differentiation on day 4 and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) on day 8 were detected.On day 8,differentiation cells were also observed under phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).ES cells and endothelial-specific molecular markers were assessed by RT-PCR at different time-points.Results As self-renewal marker genes were expressed in E14 cells,E14 cells was identified to maintain their selfrenewal pluripotency.The marker gene of letarl,Flk1 was expressed on differentiation day 4.On differentiation day 8 the marker gene VE-cadherin was expressed and as observed under PCM endothelial cells with spindle shape and TEM with Weibel-Palade body,thus were the major populations generated after VEGF induction,and E14 cells were confirmed differentiated into mature endothelial cells.The expressions of genes octamer binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4),Flk1 and VE-cadherin were detected on differentiation day 2,4,6,8 and 10.Conclusions As VE-cadherin gene was expressed in monolayer on differentiation day 8,E14 cells were confirmed differentiated into endothelial cells,which would be a new therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disease.