Induced differentiation of human gingival fibroblasts into VSMC-like cells

• Published in: Differentiation (London) Vol. 95; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Liu, Xuqian, Wang, Jie, Dong, Fusheng, Li, Hexiang, Hou, Yali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01-05-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Actins - metabolism; Adult Stem Cells - cytology; Adult Stem Cells - drug effects; Becaplermin; Calcium-Binding Proteins - genetics; Calcium-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Calponins; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Differentiation; Epithelium; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Gene expression; Gingiva - cytology; Human gingival fibroblasts; Humans; Major histocompatibility complex; Microfilament Proteins - genetics; Microfilament Proteins - metabolism; mRNA; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myofibrils - metabolism; PDGF-BB; Platelet-derived growth factor; Platelet-derived growth factor BB; Polymerase chain reaction; Protein expression; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis - pharmacology; Smooth muscle; Stem cells; Structure-function relationships; Transforming Growth Factor beta - pharmacology; Transforming growth factor-b1; Vascular smooth muscle cells; Human gingival fibroblasts; Differentiation; Vascular smooth muscle cells; PDGF-BB
• ISSN: 0301-4681; 1432-0436
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2017.01.001

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major component of the vascular wall, and they play an essential role in maintaining the basic physiological function and stable structure of the vascular wall. In the present study, human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were cultured and induced into VSMC-like cells in vitro to confirm that HGFs with properties of stem cells have the potential for differentiation. The epithelium isolated from patients was extracted from normal human gingiva consisting of epithelium and connective tissue. HGFs were first identified by morphological examination, as well as specific gene and protein expression, and then induced by 10ng/mL PDGF-BB combined with 2ng/mL of TGF-β1 for 28 days. After induction, ICS data indicated that induced VSMC-like cells were positive for α-SMA and SM-MHC, and IFA data showed that induced cells were positive for SM22α and Cnn1. RT-PCR results demonstrated that α-SMA and SM-MHC mRNA were specifically expressed, and myofilament-like structures also appeared in induced cells. In conclusion, the data indicated that HGFs could differentiate to VSMC-like cells with typical VSMC morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunological characteristics via induction with PDGF-BB and TGF-β1.
•HGFs possessed the capacity for differentiation into VSMC-like cells by induction.•Induced cells possessed morphologic and immunologic characteristics similar to VSMCs.•Myofilament-like structures appeared in induced VSMC-like cells.