Human models for smooth muscle cell differentiation. Focus on “A novel in vitro model system for smooth muscle differentiation from human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal cells”

The objective of this study was to develop a novel in vitro model for smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation from human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal cells (hES-MCs). We found that hES-MCs were differentiated to SMCs by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in a dose- and time-dependent manner as demonstrated by the expression of SMC-specific genes smooth muscle α-actin, calponin, and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. Under normal growth conditions, however, the differentiation capacity of hES-MCs was very limited. hES-MC-derived SMCs had an elongated and spindle-shaped morphology and contracted in response to the induction of carbachol and KCl. KCl-induced calcium transient was also evident in these cells. Compared with the parental cells, TGF-β-treated hES-MCs sustained the endothelial tube formation for a longer time due to the sustained SMC phenotype. Mechanistically, TGF-β-induced differentiation was both Smad- and serum response factor/myocardin dependent. TGF-β regulated myocardin expression via multiple signaling pathways including Smad2/3, p38 MAPK, and PI3K. Importantly, we found that a low level of myocardin was present in mesoderm prior to SMC lineage determination, and a high level of myocardin was not induced until the differentiation process was initiated. Taken together, our study characterized a novel SMC differentiation model that can be used for studying human SMC differentiation from mesoderm during vascular development.

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The Human Breast Cancer Cell DNA Synthesome Can Serve as a Novel in Vitro Model System for Studying the Mechanism of Action of Anticancer Drugs

10.21236/ada384124 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

Haiyan Jiang

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Human Breast Cancer ◽

In Vitro Model ◽

Model System ◽

Human Breast Cancer Cell ◽

Human Breast ◽

Dna Synthesome ◽

In Vitro Model System ◽

Vitro Model

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Serotonin Binding Proteins: An In Vitro Model System for Monoamine-related Neurotoxicitya

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb21830.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 738 (1) ◽

pp. 408-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

GEORGES VAUQUELIN ◽

MARLENE JIMENEZ RIO ◽

CARLOS VELEZ PARDO

Keyword(s):

Binding Proteins ◽

In Vitro Model ◽

Model System ◽

In Vitro Model System ◽

Vitro Model

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Exposure of ichnovirus particles to digitonin leads to enhanced infectivity and induces fusion from without in an in vitro model system

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.83118-0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 88 (11) ◽

pp. 2977-2984 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Don Stoltz ◽

Renée Lapointe ◽

Andrea Makkay ◽

Michel Cusson

Keyword(s):

Outer Membrane ◽

In Vitro Model ◽

Model System ◽

Host Cells ◽

Fusion Event ◽

Susceptible Host ◽

In Vitro Model System ◽

Vitro Model

Unlike most viruses, the mature ichnovirus particle possesses two unit membrane envelopes. Following loss of the outer membrane in vivo, nucleocapsids are believed to gain entry into the cytosol via a membrane fusion event involving the inner membrane and the plasma membrane of susceptible host cells; accordingly, experimentally induced damage to the outer membrane might be expected to increase infectivity. Here, in an attempt to develop an in vitro model system for studying ichnovirus infection, we show that digitonin-induced disruption of the virion outer membrane not only increases infectivity, but also uncovers an activity not previously associated with any polydnavirus: fusion from without.

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