In this study, CD34+/CD31- progenitor cells were isolated from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue using magnetic activated cell sorting. The endothelial differentiation capability of these cells in vitro was evaluated by culturing them in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced medium for 14 days. Viability, proliferation, differentiation and tube formation of these cells were evaluated. Cell viability study revealed that both undifferentiated and endothelial differentiated cells remained healthy for 14 days. However, the proliferation rate was higher in undifferentiated cells compared to endothelial differentiated ones. Upregulation of endothelial characteristic genes (Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and VE Cadherin) was observed in 2D culture. However, PECAM (CD31) was only found to be upregulated after the cells had formed tube-like structures in 3D Matrigel culture. These results indicate that adipose derived CD34+/CD31- cells when cultured in VEGF induced medium, are capable differentiation into endothelial-like lineages. Tube formation of the cells started 3h after seeding the cells on Matrigel and formed more stable and connected network 24 h post seeding in presence of VEGF.
Keywords: CD34+ cells; Stromal vascular fraction; adipose tissue; endothelial differentiation.