VEGF promotes cardiac stem cells differentiation into vascular endothelial cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Recent research suggested that cardiac stem cells (CSCs) may have the clinical application for cardiac repair. However, their characteristics and the regulatory mechanisms of their growth and differentiation have not been fully investigated. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, VEGF-A) is a major regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis. But the homing role of VEGF for CSCs is unclear. In this report, CSCs were isolated, purified, and expanded in vitro from rat heart. VEGF, SU5416 (VEGF receptor blocker), and Wortmannin (PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor) were used for differentiation into vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Real-time qPCR was selected to confirm the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in VECs differentiation from rat CSCs. The result of real-time qPCR demonstrated that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in rat CSCs differentiated into VECs. So, our research provides a theoretical basis and experimental evidence for therapeutic application of rat CSCs to treat cardiac repair.
['Xiao|Nuan|N|', 'Qi|Xiao-Yong|XY|', 'Tang|Lu-Ning|LN|', 'Tan|Li-Li|LL|', 'Chen|Ya-Qing|YQ|', 'Zhao|Hong-Mei|HM|']
D053687:Adult Stem Cells D000818:Animals D002454:Cell Differentiation D002478:Cells, Cultured D004730:Endothelium, Vascular D007211:Indoles D032386:Myoblasts, Cardiac D009206:Myocardium D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt D010641:Phenotype D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases D011758:Pyrroles D051381:Rats D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D015398:Signal Transduction D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A D014945:Wound Healing
cardiac stem cells vascular endothelial cells PI3K/Akt signaling pathway rat