Cotransplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells for angiogenesis and pulp regeneration in vivo

Abstract

AimsTo explored the potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) as seed cells for dental pulp regeneration and the possibility of cotransplantation hUCMSCs and endothelial cells (ECs) for angiogenesis and pulp regeneration in vivo. Materials and methodshUCMSCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cocultured for matrigel angiogenesis assay in vitro and Matrigel plug assay in vivo. Next, we used the transwell coculture system to coculture hUCMSCs and HUVECs in vitro for RNA- sequencing (RNA-seq). Last, encapsulated hUCMSCs and HUVECs in scaffolds were injected into the root segments, and transplanted into immunodeficient mice for dental pulp regeneration. Key findingsIn vitro Matrigel angiogenesis assay and in vivo Matrigel plug assay indicated that cocultured hUCMSCs and HUVECs promote vascular formation of HUVECs, especially in 1:5 (hUCMSCs:HUVECs) coculture group. The RNA-seq result indicated that cocultured HUVECs exhibited high Hif-1 signaling pathway activity. We performed the cell transfection assay to knock down HIF1A-AS2 in HUVECs and then coculture with hUCMSCs, and the expression of VEGFA, HIF1A and PECAM1 were reduced. In pulp regeneration assay, Cotransplantation of hUCMSCs and HUVECs (1,5) group showed pulp-like tissue regeneration. SignificanceCocultured hUCMSCs and HUVECs can promote vascular formation of HUVECs, and the optimal coculture ration is 1:5 (hUCMSCs:HUVECs). hUCMSCs promote angiogenesis of HUVECs through the long noncoding RNA HIF1A-AS2-activation of the Hif-1 signaling pathway. Cotransplantation of hUCMSCs and HUVECs can regenerate dental pulp-like tissue in vivo.