Fast generating functional blood vessels from human stem cells

Blood vessels are necessary for almost all tissues, providing nutrients and oxygen, regulating hemostasis and modulating inflammation. Playing functional vascular networks is fundamental to both basic and translational vascular biology, but the current methods of producing blood vessels from stem cells are often slow, inefficient or lack of complexity needed for treatment.

In this study, scientists have developed a quick and defined method of building micro-vascular micro-vascular networks-from human stem cells. Thanks to the precise activation of two transcription factors (ETV2 and NKX3.1), they were able to create both endothelial and mural cells. This caused a self -organizing, functional vessels that can connect to the host’s vascular system after implantation.

This approach not only accelerates the process of building blood vessels, but also about the purpose of obtaining critical, independent control over two main types of vascular cells needed to build functional blood vessels. This level of control was not previously demonstrated in other models. As a result, this system offers a new powerful platform for modeling vascular network, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.