@article {18232, title = {Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells co-cultured with osteoblasts contribute to in vivo neo-vascularization}, booktitle = {TERMIS AP 2013}, year = {2013}, month = {2013-11-25 00:00:00}, address = {Whuzen/Shangai, China}, abstract = {

Introduction Endothelial progenitors obtained from umbilical cord blood (UCB) have been suggested to improve the vascularization of bone tissue engineered constructs. Combining the UCB mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction with endothelial-supportive osteoblasts could bring strong improvements to in vivo neo-vascularization of constructs. Experimental Osteoblasts (Ob) obtained from adipose-derived stem cells were cultured on membranes of Chondrus crispus kappa/iota carrageenan until confluence. UCB-MNC were isolated by differential centrifugation, seeded on top of the Ob monolayer, co-cultured for 7 and 21 days and implanted in nude mice. Results The presence of cells positive for CD31 and vWF was confirmed along the co-culture. Gene expression analysis showed over expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin in the co-cultures at day 21. Independently of the time of implantation, H\&E analysis revealed the presence of an intense inflammatory infiltrate. Human CD31 positive cells integrated the blood vessels surrounding the co-cultured implants suggesting the migration of UCB-MNC to the nascent vessels. Moreover, increased blood vessel formation was found around the co-culture implants in comparison to the controls corresponding to transplants only with Ob.Conclusion These results indicate the potential use of the UCB-MNC without further selection and supported by co-culture with osteoblasts, as a source of endothelial progenitors capable of contributing to new blood vessel formation in vivo.

}, keywords = {Umbilical cord blood, vascularization}, author = {Pirraco, R. P. and Melo-Ferreira, B. and Santos, T. C. and Frias, A. M. and Marques, A. P. and Reis, R. L.} }