Identification and prospective isolation of a mesothelial precursor lineage giving rise to smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts for mammalian internal organs, and their …

Y Rinkevich, T Mori, D Sahoo, PX Xu… - Nature cell …, 2012 - nature.com
Y Rinkevich, T Mori, D Sahoo, PX Xu, JR Bermingham Jr, IL Weissman
Nature cell biology, 2012nature.com
Fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (FSMCs) are principal cell types of connective and
adventitial tissues that participate in the development, physiology and pathology of internal
organs, with incompletely defined cellular origins. Here, we identify and prospectively isolate
from the mesothelium a mouse cell lineage that is committed to FSMCs. The mesothelium is
an epithelial monolayer covering the vertebrate thoracic and abdominal cavities and internal
organs. Time-lapse imaging and transplantation experiments reveal robust generation of …
Abstract
Fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (FSMCs) are principal cell types of connective and adventitial tissues that participate in the development, physiology and pathology of internal organs, with incompletely defined cellular origins. Here, we identify and prospectively isolate from the mesothelium a mouse cell lineage that is committed to FSMCs. The mesothelium is an epithelial monolayer covering the vertebrate thoracic and abdominal cavities and internal organs. Time-lapse imaging and transplantation experiments reveal robust generation of FSMCs from the mesothelium. By targeting mesothelin (MSLN), a surface marker expressed on mesothelial cells, we identify and isolate precursors capable of clonally generating FSMCs. Using a genetic lineage tracing approach, we show that embryonic and adult mesothelium represents a common lineage to trunk FSMCs, and trunk vasculature, with minimal contributions from neural crest, or circulating cells. The isolation of FSMC precursors enables the examination of multiple aspects of smooth muscle and fibroblast biology as well as the prospective isolation of these precursors for potential regenerative medicine purposes.
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