ER71/ETV2-mediated direct reprogramming of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) into endothelial-like cells

Samples 1-6: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. A significant number of genes related with vessel development and angiogenesis was significantly upregulated in KDR+ cells, compared to control HDFs. These findings strongly argue that ER71/ETV2 directly reprograms human fibroblasts to functional endothelial-like cells, which could be useful for disease investigation as well as autologous cell therapy. Samples 7-12: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells were further cultured up to day 93. The further cultured cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. A significant number of genes related with vessel development and angiogenesis was significantly upregulated in the further cultured cells, compared to control HDFs. These findings strongly argue that ER71/ETV2 directly reprograms human fibroblasts to functional endothelial-like cells, which could be useful for disease investigation as well as autologous cell therapy. Samples 1-6: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling. Samples 7-12: HDFs transduced with ER71/ETV2 were sorted on KDR expression at day 7. The isolated KDR+ cells were further cultured up to day 93. The further cultured cells together with human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and untransduced HDFs were subjected to genomic gene expression profiling.