Different Differentiation Kinetics of Vascular Progenitor Cells in Primate and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Abstract

Background— We demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGF-R2)-positive cells derived from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into both endothelial cells and mural cells to suffice as vascular progenitor cells (VPCs). Here we examined whether VPCs occur in primate ES cells and investigated the differences in VPC differentiation kinetics between primate and mouse ES cells. Methods and Results— In contrast to mouse ES cells, undifferentiated monkey ES cells expressed VEGF-R2. By culturing these undifferentiated ES cells for 4 days on OP9 feeder layer, VEGF-R2 expression disappeared, and then reappeared after 8 days of differentiation. We then isolated these VEGF-R2–positive and vascular endothelial cadherin (VEcadherin)-negative cells by flow cytometry sorting. Additional 5-day reculture of these VEGF-R2+ VEcadherin− cells on OP9 feeder layer resulted in the appearance of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM1)-positive, VEcadherin-positive, endothelia...