Title
Chromatin-modifying agents convert fibroblasts to OCT4+ and VEGFR-2+ capillary tube-forming cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-3-2017
Advisor(s)
Kishore K. Wary; Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago
Keywords
Epigenetics, pharmacology, small-molecule, angiogenesis, endothelial, regeneration and repair, stem cells, cardiovascular disease, regenerative medicine
Disciplines
Biology | Genetics and Genomics | Integrative Biology | Life Sciences | Molecular Genetics
Abstract
Rationale
The human epigenome is plastic. The goal of this study was to address if fibroblast cells can be epigenetically modified to promote neovessel formation.
Methods and results
Here, we used highly abundant human adult dermal fibroblast cells (hADFCs) that were treated with the chromatin-modifying agents 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A, and subsequently subjected to differentiation by activating Wnt signaling. Our results show that these epigenetically modified hADFCs increasingly expressed β-catenin, pluripotency factor octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (OCT4, also known as POU5F1), and endothelial cell (EC) marker called vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2, also known as Fetal Liver Kinase-1). In microscopic analysis, β-catenin localized to cell-cell contact points, while OCT4 was found to be localized primarily to the nucleus of these cells. Furthermore, in a chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment, OCT4 bound to the VEGFR-2/FLK1 promoter. Finally, these modified hADFCs also transduced Wnt signaling. Importantly, on a two-dimensional (2D) gel substrate, a subset of the converted cells formed vascular network- like structures in the presence of VEGF.
Conclusion
Chromatin-modifying agents converted hADFCs to OCT4+ and VEGFR-2+ capillary tubeforming cells in a 2D matrix in VEGF-dependent manner.
Publication Title
PLOS | ONE
Recommended Citation
Citation: Wary A, Wary N, Baruah J, Mastej V, Wary KK (2017) Chromatin-modifying agents convert fibroblasts to OCT4+ and VEGFR-2+capillary tube-forming cells. PLoS ONE 12(5):e0176496. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0176496