From totipotent embryonic stem cells to spontaneously contracting smooth muscle cells: a retinoic acid and db-cAMP in vitro differentiation model

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	From totipotent embryonic stem cells to spontaneously contracting smooth muscle cells: a retinoic acid and db-cAMP in vitro differentiation model
Creators Name:	Drab, M., Haller, H., Bychkov, R., Erdmann, B., Lindschau, C., Haase, H., Morano, I., Luft, F.C. and Wobus, A.M.
Abstract:	Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation is important in understanding vascular disease; however, no in vitro model is available. Totipotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were used to establish such a model. To test whether the ES cell-derived smooth muscle cells expressed VSMC-specific properties, the differentiated cells were characterized by 1) morphological analysis, 2) gene expression, 3) immunostaining for VSMC-specific proteins, 4) expression of characteristic VSMC ion channels, and 5) formation of [Ca2+]i transients in response to VSMC-specific agonists. Treatment of embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies with retinoic acid and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP) induced differentiation of spontaneously contracting cell clusters in 67% of embryoid bodies compared with 10% of untreated controls. The highest differentiation rate was observed when retinoic acid and db-cAMP were applied to the embryoid bodies between days 7 and 11 in combination with frequent changes of culture medium. Other protocols with retinoic acid and db-cAMP, as well as single or combined treatment with VEGF, ECGF, bFGF, aFGF, fibronectin, matrigel, or hypoxia did not influence the differentiation rate. Single-cell RT-PCR and sequencing of the PCR products identified myosin heavy chain (MHC) splice variants distinguishing between gut and VSMC isoforms. RT-PCR with VSMC-specific MHC primers and immunostaining confirmed the presence of VSMC transcripts and MHC protein. Furthermore, VSMC expressing MHC had typical ion channels and responded to specific agonists with an increased [Ca2+]i. Here we present a retinoic acid + db-cAMP-inducible embryonic stem cell model of in vitro vasculogenesis. ES cell-derived cells expressing VSMC-specific MHC and functional VSMC properties may be a suitable system to study mechanisms of VSMC differentiation.
Keywords:	Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Myosin Heavy Chain, Retinoic Acid Receptors, Oligonucleodite, Intracellular Calcium, Immunocytochemistry, Embryoid Body, Animals, Mice
Source:	FASEB Journal
ISSN:	0892-6638
Publisher:	Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Volume:	11
Number:	11
Page Range:	905-915
Date:	September 1997
Official Publication:	http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/11/905
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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