Using hESCs to Understand Vasculogenesis Processes

The Role of BMP4 Plays in Regulating Vascular DevelopmentMy friend, Dr. Steve Stice and team at UGA have published excellent findings on the process of vasculogenesis: N. L. Boyd, S. K. Dhara, R. Rekaya, E. A. Godbey, K. Hasneen, R. R. Rao, F. D. West III, B. A. Gerwe, S. L. Stice. BMP4 Promotes Formation of Primitive Vascular Networks in Human Embryonic Stem Cell–Derived Embryoid Bodies. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) June 2007 vol. 232 no. 6 833-843. Highlights:Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have the capability to produce all of the cells of the body and have been used as in vitro models to study the molecular signals controlling differentiation and vessel assembly. One such regulatory molecule is bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4), which is required for mesoderm formation and vascular/hematopoietic specification in several species. However, hESC grown in feeder-free conditions and treated with BMP4 differentiate into a cellular phenotype highly expressing a trophoblast gene profile. Therefore, it is unclear what role, if any, BMP4 plays in regulating vascular development in hESC. Here we show in two National Institutes of Health–registered hESC lines (BG02 and WA09) cultured on a 3D substrate of Matrigel in endothelial cell growth medium–2 that the addition of BMP4 (100 ng/ml) for 3 days significantly increases the formation and outgrowth of a network of cells reminiscent of capillary-like structures formed by mature endothelial cells (P < 0.0...
Source: Neuromics - Category: Neuroscience Tags: human embryonic stem cell markers hESCs Regulating Vascular Development Vasculogenesis BMP-4 angiogenesis bone morphogenetic protein-4 Source Type: news