Endothelin-1 supports clonal derivation and expansion of cardiovascular progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells

Nat Commun. 2016 Mar 8:7:10774. doi: 10.1038/ncomms10774.

Abstract

Coronary arteriogenesis is a central step in cardiogenesis, requiring coordinated generation and integration of endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cells. At present, it is unclear whether the cell fate programme of cardiac progenitors to generate complex muscular or vascular structures is entirely cell autonomous. Here we demonstrate the intrinsic ability of vascular progenitors to develop and self-organize into cardiac tissues by clonally isolating and expanding second heart field cardiovascular progenitors using WNT3A and endothelin-1 (EDN1) human recombinant proteins. Progenitor clones undergo long-term expansion and differentiate primarily into endothelial and smooth muscle cell lineages in vitro, and contribute extensively to coronary-like vessels in vivo, forming a functional human-mouse chimeric circulatory system. Our study identifies EDN1 as a key factor towards the generation and clonal derivation of ISL1(+) vascular intermediates, and demonstrates the intrinsic cell-autonomous nature of these progenitors to differentiate and self-organize into functional vasculatures in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular System / cytology*
  • Cardiovascular System / growth & development
  • Cardiovascular System / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endothelin-1 / genetics
  • Endothelin-1 / metabolism*
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Endothelin-1
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1