Steens, J.* ; Unger, K. ; Klar, L.* ; Neureiter, A.* ; Wieber, K.* ; Hess J. ; Jakob, H.G.* ; Klump, H.* ; Klein, D.*
Direct conversion of human fibroblasts into therapeutically active vascular wall-typical mesenchymal stem cells.
Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 3401–3422 (2020)
Cell-based therapies using adult stem cells are promising options for the treatment of a number of diseases including autoimmune and cardiovascular disorders. Among these, vascular wall-derived mesenchymal stem cells (VW-MSCs) might be particularly well suited for the protection and curative treatment of vascular damage because of their tissue-specific action. Here we report a novel method for the direct conversion of human skin fibroblasts towards MSCs using a VW-MSC-specific gene code (HOXB7, HOXC6 and HOXC8) that directs cell fate conversion bypassing pluripotency. This direct programming approach using either a self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral vector expressing the VW-MSC-specific HOX-code or a tetracycline-controlled Tet-On system for doxycycline-inducible gene expressions of HOXB7, HOXC6 and HOXC8 successfully mediated the generation of VW-typical MSCs with classical MSC characteristics in vitro and in vivo. The induced VW-MSCs (iVW-MSCs) fulfilled all criteria of MSCs as defined by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). In terms of multipotency and clonogenicity, which are important specific properties to discriminate MSCs from fibroblasts, iVW-MSCs behaved like primary ex vivo isolated VW-MSCs and shared similar molecular and DNA methylation signatures. With respect to their therapeutic potential, these cells suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, and protected mice against vascular damage in a mouse model of radiation-induced pneumopathy in vivo, as well as ex vivo cultured human lung tissue. The feasibility to obtain patient-specific VW-MSCs from fibroblasts in large amounts by a direct conversion into induced VW-MSCs could potentially open avenues towards novel, MSC-based therapies.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
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Keywords
Adult Stem Cells ; Fibroblast ; Hox Code ; Lineage Conversion ; Radioprotection ; Stem Cell Therapy ; Vascular Wall
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Language
english
Publication Year
2020
Prepublished in Year
2019
HGF-reported in Year
2019
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1420-682X
e-ISSN
1420-9071
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Volume: 77,
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Pages: 3401–3422
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Birkhäuser
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Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
30504 - Mechanisms of Genetic and Environmental Influences on Health and Disease
Research field(s)
Radiation Sciences
PSP Element(s)
G-501000-001
G-521800-001
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Erfassungsdatum
2019-11-14