Regulation of Renal Stem Cell Number by Endothelial Cell-derived Factors

我们研究了内皮细胞衍生因子在肾干细胞生长和分化中的作用。用BrdU标记的方法可以检测到肾干细胞为BrdU阳性细胞。肾干细胞数量和间质毛细血管面积随增龄而减少。当分离的肾干细胞与人脐静脉内皮细胞共培养时，肾干细胞数量显著增加。HGF诱导人RPTEC形成小管。当RPTEC与人脐静脉内皮细胞共同培养时，其成管能力显著增强。多受体酪氨酸激酶在RPTEC管形成过程中被磷酸化。总而言之，这些数据表明内皮细胞衍生因子中存在干细胞激活剂。

We examined the role of endothelial cell-derived factors in growth and differentiation of renal stem cell. Using BrdU labeling method, renal stem cells could be detected as BrdU-positive cells. The number of renal stem cells as well as the interstitial peritubular capillary area decreased with aging. When isolated renal stem cells were co-cultured with HUVEC, the number of renal stem cells significantly increased. HGF induced tube formation in human RPTEC. When RPTEC were co-cultured with HUVEC, tube formation was significantly enhanced. Multiple receptor tyrosine kinases were phosphorylated in RPTEC during tube formation. Collectively, these data suggest the presence of stem cell activators in the endothelial cell-derived factors.