TGF-beta signaling in embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2006:330:341-51. doi: 10.1385/1-59745-036-7:341.

Abstract

The roles of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily in vasculogenesis have been implicated by the findings that mutations in genes encoding for various TGF-beta superfamily signaling components exhibit defects in vascular tissues in humans and mice. Embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived vascular progenitor cells have been shown to differentiate into both endothelial and mural cells. We showed that members of the TGF-beta superfamily play important roles during differentiation of vascular progenitor cells derived from mouse ESC. TGF-beta inhibited proliferation and sheet formation of ESC-derived endothelial cells. Interestingly, SB-431542, a synthetic molecule that inhibits the kinases of receptors for TGF-beta and activin, facilitated proliferation and sheet formation of ESC-derived endothelial cells. We also found that stimulation of ESC-derived endothelial cells with TGF-beta resulted in phosphorylation of both Smad2 and Smadl/5; BMP induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5. In this chapter, we present how to study the cellular and biochemical effects of TGF-beta signals on endothelial cells derived from mouse ESCs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzamides / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques*
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dioxoles / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Smad Proteins, Receptor-Regulated / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • 4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamide
  • Benzamides
  • Dioxoles
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Smad Proteins, Receptor-Regulated
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2