Abstract
We have found multipotent stem cell populations residing in the interstitial spaces of skeletal muscle (designated Sk-34 and Sk-DN cells) can give rise to myogenic, vascular (pericytes, vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells), and neural (Schwann cells) cells, as well as contributed to the synchronized reconstitution of blood vessels, muscle fibers, and peripheral nerves. To expecting vasculogenic capacity of these cells, we investigated the hypothesis that Sk-34 (CD34+/45-) cells may play an important role for the ischemic tissues as a "tissue specific vasculogenic cells" and may be contribute to vasculogenesis. For this purpose, the Sk-34 cells, obtained from the muscles of 3-6 week-old GFP mice, were administrated intramuscularly into the nude mice with hindlimb ischemic models (n=4 each), and same amount of physiological saline was administrated for control group. Two weeks after transplantation, the Sk-34 cells transplanted group demonstrated significantly less toe necrosis (p<0.05), and enhanced recovery of peripheral perfusion measured by Laser Doppler (p<0.05) compared to control group. Moreover, increase in donor derived (GFP positive) CD31 positive cells and/or vessels can be seen in treated animals compared to control by immunohistochemical analysis. These findings indicate that this cell population represents an accessible cell source that can be used therapeutically to improve postnatal neovascularization. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S145]
