Gap junction ‐mediated cell‐cell interaction between transplanted mesenchymal stem cells and vascular endothelium in stroke

Ten minutes after BCECF ‐loaded mesenchymal stem cells transplantation, the expression of connexin 37 were observed in the cell membrane of endothelial cells which are adjacent to the transferred BCECF signal at nuclei/cytosol of the cells. AbstractWe have shown previously that transplanted bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM ‐MNC), which are a cell fraction rich in hematopoietic stem cells, can activate cerebral endothelial cells via gap junction‐mediated cell‐cell interaction. In the present study, we investigated such cell‐cell interaction between mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and cerebral endothelial cells. In contrast to BM‐MNC, for MSC we observed suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor uptake into endothelial cells and transfer of glucose from endothelial cells to MSC in vitro. The transfer of such a small molecule from MSC to vascular endothelium was subsequently confirmed in vivo and was followed by suppressed activation of macrophage/microglia in stroke mice. The suppressive effect was absent by blockade of gap junction at MSC. Furthermore, gap junction ‐mediated cell‐cell interaction was observed between circulating white blood cells and MSC. Our findings indicate that gap junction‐mediated cell‐cell interaction is one of the major pathways for MSC‐mediated suppression of inflammation in the brain following stroke and provides a novel st rategy to maintain the blood‐brain barrier in injured brain. Furthermore, our current results have...
Source: Stem Cells - Category: Stem Cells Authors: Tags: REGENERATIVE MEDICINE Source Type: research