Using human pluripotent stem cells, researchers have discovered a method for creating high purity vascular smooth muscle.
Although blood and cardiac cells from human pluripotent stem cells have been created before, this is the first time that all the major types of vascular smooth muscle cells have been developed in an easily scalable manner.
In the UK, one in three of all deaths is due to cardiovascular disease. The vast majority of these are caused by atherosclerosis, a ‘furring up’ and blockage of blood vessels. For patients who are unsuitable for conventional stenting or bypass treatment, one option in the future may be to grow new blood vessels to bypass their own blocked vessels.
Dr Sanjay Sinha, Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow at the University of Cambridge said: “This research represents an important step in being able to generate the right kind of smooth muscle cells to help construct these new blood vessels. Other patients who may benefit from new blood vessels include those with renal failure, who need vascular grafts for dialysis.”
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) originate from different tissues in the early embryo. Here the researchers were able to reproduce three distinct types of embryonic tissue in the culture dish. When tested, these SMCs responded differently to vascular disease causing substances, such as growth factors, depending on which embryonic pathway they had come from. The researchers concluded that differences in embryonic origin may play a part in determining where and when common vascular diseases such as aortic aneurysms or atherosclerosis develop.
“Using this system, we can begin to understand how SMC origin affects development of vascular disease and why some parts of the vasculature are protected from disease," said Dr Sinha.
“Additionally, there are many patients who have a genetic disorder, such as Marfans Syndrome, that affects their vascular smooth muscle cells and leads to premature death and disability. With this research, and using human pluripotent stem cells generated from patient skin samples, we will be able to generate smooth muscle cells with the genetic abnormality in a culture dish. This type of ‘disease in a dish’ modelling will allow us to understand the disease better and will allow us to screen for new treatments.”
Adapted from the University of Cambridge announcement.
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