Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (10): 1897-1900.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.10.040

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Differentiation potential of monocytes into lymphatic endothelial cells

Liang Yan-hong1, Zhang Zhao-lin1, Tian Hua1, Wang Chang-ming2, Wang Shi-kun1, Li Xin1, Song Tao1   

  1. 1Institute of Anatomy & Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Shandong University, Jinan  250012, Shandong Province, China;
    2Institute of Anatomy & Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical College of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing  210046, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Online:2010-03-05 Published:2010-03-05
  • Contact: Tian Hua, Professor, Institute of Anatomy & Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Shandong University, Jinan 250012. Shandong Province, China sduth@yahoo.com. cn
  • About author:Liang Yan-hong, Studying for master’s degree, Institute of Anatomy & Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China kittycat12726@ yahoo.com.cn
  • Supported by:

    the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, No. ZR2009CZ014*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that monocytes can transdifferentiate into vascular endothelial cells under the induction of various factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It remains poorly understood whether monocytes can be induced to transdifferentiate into lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of the transdifferentiation of monocytes into lymphatic endothelial cells under inflammatory condition.
METHODS: Fresh monocytes from peripheral blood were collected by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and cultured in an endothelial cell medium, followed by incubation in fibronectin-plated well or treated with tumor necrosis factor α for 24 hours, respectively. The expression of specific markers of lymphatic endothelial cells, such as LYVE-1, Podoplanin, Porx-1 and VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3), as well as the endothelial cells markers, such as vWF, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and VEGFR-2, were detected by RT-PCR and immunochemical methods.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Prior to induction, monocytes were positive to LYVE-1, but negative for Podoplanin, Porx-1, and VEGFR-3, vWF, eNOS, as well as VEGFR-2. Following induction, the cultured mononcytes were positive for Podoplanin, Prox-1 and VEGFR-3, but remained negative for vWF, eNOS and VEGFR-2. It suggested that monocytes can be induced to express the markers of lymphatic endothelial cells stimulated by fibronectin or tumor necrosis factor α.

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