HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Li, J. Articles by Wagner, T. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Li, J. Articles by Wagner, T. E.

In Vitro Endothelial Differentiation of Long-Term Cultured Murine Embryonic Yolk Sac Cells Induced by Matrigel

Edison Biotechnology Institute, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and Department of Biological Sciences of Ohio University, Konneker Research Laboratories, The Ridges, Athens, Ohio, USA

Key Words. Endothelial differentiation • Yolk sac cell • Matrigel • Inhibitor • Tube formation • Angiogenesis

Dr. Yanzhang Wei, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Clemson University, 124 Long Hall, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA.

The yolk sac of an early mammalian embryo contains progenitors of hematopoietic cells and vascular endothelial cells. We established a cell line, YS4, from murine embryonic yolk sac 10 years ago. The line has been successfully cultured since then. To determine whether these long-term cultured yolk sac cells still have the potential to differentiate into endothelial cells, an in vitro model of yolk sac cell differentiation into tube-forming endothelial cells was established in the present study by culturing the yolk sac cells on basement membrane proteins (Matrigel). The results indicate that upon plating onto Matrigel, YS4 cells attach quickly, align in tandem, and form a complete network of capillary structures within 12 h. By using antibodies against the known components of Matrigel in a tube formation inhibition assay, we found that extracellular matrix proteins such as laminin, collagen IV, vitronectin, and fibronectin are the most important components in the Matrigel which induce the yolk sac cells to undergo endothelial differentiation. New basement membrane proteins are also required for the endothelial differentiation process, as indicated by the fact that base membrane protein synthesis inhibitor, D609, can block the differentiation process. Furthermore, our experiments revealed the involvement of several signal transduction pathways, such as protein kinase A, C and protein tyrosine kinase in this differentiation process.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H Paradis and R. Gendron LIF transduces contradictory signals on capillary outgrowth through induction of stat3 and (P41/43)MAP kinase J. Cell Sci., January 12, 2000; 113(23): 4331 - 4339. [Abstract] [PDF]