BMP4 promotes vascularization of human adipose stromal cells and endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Vascularization is a major obstacle to clinical application of regenerative medicine. Engineered tissues must be able to generate an early vascular network that can quickly connect with the host vasculature. Recent research demonstrates that natural adipose tissues contain abundant stromal cells, which can give rise to pericytes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the application of human adipose stromal cells (ASCs) to vascularization, and the function of BMP4 protein during vascularization. Immunofluorescence staining for α-SMA and PDGFR-β were utilized to identify characteristics of ASCs/pericytes. They were then loaded into a collagen-fibronectin gel with endothelial cells to assess their vascularization ability, both in vitro and in vivo. We showed that the ASCs expressed some of the essential markers of pericytes and they were able to promote vascularization with endothelial cells in 3D culture, both in vitro and in vivo. BMP4 protein further promoted this vascularization. Adipose stromal cells promoted vascularization by endothelial cells and BMP4 protein further enhanced this effect.