Atherogenic Cytokines Regulate VEGF-A-Induced Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial Cells

Figure 1

Characterization of BM-MSCs: detailed FACS characterization revealed that MSCs at P3 to P5 stained negatively for CD14 and CD45 but expressed surface markers that are indicative of MSC lineage, including CD44, CD73, and CD90 (a). Isolated MSCs also exhibited fibroblastoid-like morphology (b). Naïve BM-MSCs demonstrated the capacity to differentiate in osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Alizarin red showed staining of calcium deposits in MSCs differentiated into the osteogenic lineage. Alcian/Safranin O blue showed staining of peptidoglycans characteristic of differentiation into the chondrogenic lineage. Oil Red O showed staining of the lipids and triglycerides, indicating differentiation into the adipogenic lineage. Each image shown is representative of independent experiments performed with BM-MSC cultures derived from separate microswine (). FACS analysis performed for EC markers on naïve MSCs (c), MSCs treated with VEGF-A (d), and HUVECs (e). Each grid shown is representative of independent experiments performed with cultures derived from bone marrow of separate microswine ( = 3–6).