Background: Human dedifferentiated fat cells (HDFATs) may be a new cell type suitable for regenerative therapies. The aim of this study is to assess the potential of HDFATs for vascular regeneration of periodontal tissue. To do this, HDFATs and human gingival endothelial cells (HGECs) were cocultivated, and vascular regeneration was examined in vitro.
Methods: HDFATs were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue, and HGECs were isolated from gingival cells using anti-cluster of differentiation 31 antibody-coated magnetic beads. HDFATs were cocultured with HGECs in microvascular endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EGM-2MV) for 7 days. Expression of endothelial cell (EC) markers, the formation of capillary-like tubes, and the expression of pericyte markers were determined.
Results: HDFATs, cultured in EGM-2MV or cocultured with HGECs, expressed EC markers. HDFATs in both conditions initiated tube formation within 5 hours of seeding and formed extensive capillary-like structures within 12 hours. These structures disintegrated within 24 hours when cells were cultured in EGM-2MV alone, whereas cocultured HDFATs maintained tubes for >24 hours. Cocultured HDFATs significantly increased expression of pericyte markers, a cell type associated with microvasculature.
Conclusion: HDFATs possess the ability to express EC markers, and coculture with HGECs promotes differentiation into pericytes involved in the maturation and stabilization of the microvasculature.
Keywords: Adipocytes; coculture techniques; endothelial cells; pericytes; periodontal diseases; regeneration.