Human Endothelial Cell Effects on Human Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells

Endothelial cells and neural stem/progenitor cells communicate during development and in adult neural stem cell niches. However, much remains unclear regarding the coordinated regulation of these cells, particularly in humans. We used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to determine how human endothelial cells (hECs) affect human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNSPCs). We assessed hNSPC gene expression and cell phenotype after hEC contact or exposure to hEC secreted factors via conditioned media. HEC contact increases the percentage of type B hNSPCs and upregulates Notch downstream signaling, identifying a new mode of hNSPC regulation by hECs. Furthermore, hECs increase hNSPC expression of vessel promoting genes, providing a mechanism by which hNSPCs stimulate hEC vessel formation. This human scRNAseq dataset is crucial for deciphering hEC-hNSPC communication. Human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNSPCs) were grown on laminin-coated plates in media control, with human endothelial cell (hEC) conditioned media, or with hECs in co-culture for 5 days for scRNA-seq analysis. HECs alone were also cultured for 5 days in media control. Cells were harvested and sequences using the 10x Genomics platform.