Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Contractile Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play an essential role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of blood vessel and thus is a critical element for blood vessel construction via tissue engineering approach. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) represent a reliable source of mesenchymal stem cells with multidifferentiation potential. In this study, the feasibility of differentiation of human ASCs (hASCs) into cells with phenotypic and functional properties of SMCs was explored. hASCs isolated from human lipoaspirate were expanded to passage 5 and then induced with administration of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) either alone or in combination with culture medium. Expression of SMC-related markers including alpha-SM actin (α-SMA, SM22α, calponin, and SM myosin heavy chain) were detected by immunofluorescent staining, reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis. It was found that only under the circumstance of a combined...