ETS transcription factor ETV2 directly converts human fibroblasts into functional endothelial cells

R Morita, M Suzuki, H Kasahara… - Proceedings of the …, 2015 - National Acad Sciences
R Morita, M Suzuki, H Kasahara, N Shimizu, T Shichita, T Sekiya, A Kimura, K Sasaki…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2015National Acad Sciences
Transplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) is a promising therapeutic approach for ischemic
disorders. In addition, the generation of ECs has become increasingly important for
providing vascular plexus to regenerated organs, such as the liver. Although many attempts
have been made to generate ECs from pluripotent stem cells and nonvascular cells, the
minimum number of transcription factors that specialize in directly inducing vascular ECs
remains undefined. Here, by screening 18 transcription factors that are important for both …
Transplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) is a promising therapeutic approach for ischemic disorders. In addition, the generation of ECs has become increasingly important for providing vascular plexus to regenerated organs, such as the liver. Although many attempts have been made to generate ECs from pluripotent stem cells and nonvascular cells, the minimum number of transcription factors that specialize in directly inducing vascular ECs remains undefined. Here, by screening 18 transcription factors that are important for both endothelial and hematopoietic development, we demonstrate that ets variant 2 (ETV2) alone directly converts primary human adult skin fibroblasts into functional vascular endothelial cells (ETVECs). In coordination with endogenous FOXC2 in fibroblasts, transduced ETV2 elicits expression of multiple key endothelial development factors, including FLI1, ERG, and TAL1, and induces expression of endothelial functional molecules, including EGFL7 and von Willebrand factor. Consequently, ETVECs exhibits EC characteristics in vitro and forms mature functional vasculature in Matrigel plugs transplanted in NOD SCID mice. Furthermore, ETVECs significantly improve blood flow recovery in a hind limb ischemic model using BALB/c-nu mice. Our study indicates that the creation of ETVECs provides further understanding of human EC development induced by ETV2.
National Acad Sciences