Comparison of Endothelial Differentiation Capacities of Human and Rat Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Background: The authors compared the endothelial differentiation capacities of human and rat adipose-derived stem cells to determine whether human adipose-derived stem cells can be a source of endothelial cells clinically. Methods: Human and rat adipose-derived stem cells were harvested and characterized with flow cytometry and trilineage differentiation. Cells from passages III through V were fed with endothelial cell differentiation medium for up to 3 weeks. Cells were harvested after 1, 2, and 3 weeks, and endothelial differentiation was evaluated with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and angiogenic sprouting assays. Results: Both human and rat adipose-derived stem cells were CD90 +, CD44 +, and CD31 - before differentiation. The cells were successfully differentiated into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Expression of endothelial cell-specific genes peaked at the second week of differentiation in both human and rat cells. The fold changes in expression of CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1, nitric oxide synthase, and von Willebrand factor genes at week 2 were 0.4 ± 0.1, 34.7 ± 0.3, 2.03 ± 0.25, and 12.5 ± 0.3 respectively, in human adipose-derived stem cells; and 1.5 ± 1.01, 21.6 ± 1.7, 17.9 ± 0.6, and 11.2 ± 1.3, respectively, in rat cells. The percentages of CD31 + cells were 0.2, 0.64, and 1.6 in human cell populations and 0.5, 5.91, and 11.5 in rat cell populations at weeks 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Rat adipose-derived stem cell-derived endothelial cells displayed enhanced sprouting capability compared with the human cells. Conclusions: Human adipose-derived stem cells responded less strongly to EGM-2MV endothelial differentiation medium than did the rat cells. Still, the human cells have the potential to become a clinical source of endothelial cells with modifications in the differentiation conditions.