MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN VASCULAR STRUCTURE AND REMODELING IN CANCER

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in vascular structure and play an important role in vessel remodeling in normal, as well as pathological conditions, such as transplant arteriosclerosis or tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, MSCs affect tumor growth and metastasis by production of chemokines, such as (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7). Similar effect on tumor biology exert multiple other factors, such as CCAAT-enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ), which is a transcription factor playing an essential role in mammary gland development and breast cancer progression. In study I, presence of MSCs in vascular structure, as well as their role in vascular remodeling in transplant arteriosclerosis was analyzed. Specifically, rat allograft model was used to identify the predominant cell types associated with this process and to find factors crucial for their recruitment into the graft. This study identified adventitia as a potentially important source of mesenchymal stem cells that contribute to formation of intimal hyperplasia. Furthermore, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was found as a potent chemokine for the recruitment of adventitial vascular progenitor cells to intimal