Cell co-culture technology accelerates premicrovascular-like structure formation

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.38.012

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Constructing a three-dimensional tissue-like structure in vitro plays a critical role in modern tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Several advances have been made in the past decade. However, it is still a challenge to promote microvascular-like structure formation and improve limited nutritional transportation, thereby promoting cell viability.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of constructing a three-dimensional microvascular-like structure through the co-culture technique.
METHODS: Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human endothelial cells were co-cultured on a three-dimensional porous silk scaffold. Cell proliferation was analyzed by Pico-green DNA assay. Their growth profiles were evaluated by scanning electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscopy, respectively. The mRNA levels of von Willebrand factor and CD31, two key functional markers of endothelial cells, in the co-cultured endothelial cells was assayed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional culture system constructed by the silk scaffold and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells provided an ideal microenvironment for cell growth and proliferation in vitro. Moreover, this microenvironment was capable of promoting endothelial cell differentiation evidenced by their significantly improved mRNA levels of von Willebrand factor and CD31. Premicrovascular-like structure was also observed in the co-cultures under the confocal microscope. Thus, all the data supported that the unique co-culture system could promote endothelial cell differentiation and self-assembling in vitro. This culture system provides a robust tool for the studies addressing microvessel-based tissue engineering.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, stents, CD31

CLC Number:

R318

Wang Ji-wen, Li Xiang-dong, Wei Guo-feng. Cell co-culture technology accelerates premicrovascular-like structure formation[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.38.012.

Figures/Tables 5

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