Abstract
Vascularization remains one of the primary obstacles in the repair of bone defects. In the previous issue of Stem Cell Research &Therapy, Pedersen and colleagues show that co-immobilization of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells in a tissue-engineered construct can achieve functional microvascular networks in vivo. These very interesting findings, together with other state-of-the-art research in this field, are presented in this commentary. They highlight the vital role of mesenchymal stem cells as supporting cells to nascent blood vessels. The development of pre-vascularized implants by using clinically relevant cell sources, which could lead to rapid integration into the host tissue, would be of immense interest.
Highlights
Vascularization remains one of the primary obstacles in the repair of bone defects
Upregulated human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was observed in Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (hUVEC)/Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) co-cultures compared with Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) monocultures after 3 weeks in vivo
Previous studies have shown that MSCs and osteoblasts produce VEGF and other paracrine signals that increase the survival and growth of endothelial cells [2,3] and that mechanical loading of MSCs further enhances their paracrine pro-angiogenic properties [3]
Summary
Vascularization remains one of the primary obstacles in the repair of bone defects. In the previous issue of Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Pedersen and colleagues show that co-immobilization of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells in a tissue-engineered construct can achieve functional microvascular networks in vivo. The authors created three-dimensional microvascular networks under dynamic culture conditions in vitro prior to implantation in vivo. The authors showed that endothelial microvascular networks were observed after 1 week of in vitro culture and sustained after in vivo implantation within hUVEC/hMSC constructs.
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