Isolation and expansion of endothelial progenitor cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:916:81-96. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-980-8_7.

Abstract

The unlimited differentiation and proliferation capacity of embryonic stem cells represents a great resource for regenerative medicine. Here, we describe a method for differentiating, isolating, and expanding endothelial cells (ECs) from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). First, mESCs are expanded on a mouse embryonic fibroblast (mEF) feeder layer and partially differentiated into embryoid bodies (EBs) by growing the cells in an ultra-low attachment plate for up to 5 days. The EBs are then differentiated along the endothelial lineage using endothelial growth medium supplemented with 40 ng/mL vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The differentiated endothelial population expresses both Fetal Liver Kinase 1 (Flk-1) and VE-Cadherin on the cell surface which can be further purified using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) system and subsequently expanded on 0.1 % gelatin-coated plates. The differentiated cells can be analyzed by real-time PCR and flow cytometry to confirm enrichment of EC-specific genes and proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Embryoid Bodies / cytology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers
  • Cadherins
  • cadherin 5
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2