CD146 expression profile in human skin and pre-vascularized dermo-epidermal skin substitutes in vivo

Abstract

Background CD146 is a cell adhesion molecule whose expression profile in human skin has not yet been elucidated. Here, we characterize CD146 expression pattern in human skin, in particular in blood endothelial cells (BECs) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), which constitute human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), as well as in perivascular cells. Results We demonstrated that CD146 is a specific marker of BECs, but not of LECs. Moreover, we found CD146 expression also in human pericytes surrounding blood capillaries in human skin. In addition, we demonstrated that CD146 expression is up-regulated by the TNFα-IL-1β/NF-kB axis in both BECs and pericytes. Finally, we engineered 3D collagen hydrogels composed of HDMECs, CD146+ pericytes, and fibroblasts which developed, in vitro and in vivo, a complete microvasculature network composed of blood and lymphatic capillaries with pericytes investing blood capillaries. Conclusions Overall, our results proved that CD146 is a specific marker of BECs and pericytes, but not LECs in human skin. Further, the combination of CD146+ pericytes with HDMECs in skin substitutes allowed to bioengineer a comprehensive 3D in vitro and in vivo model of the human dermal microvasculature.

Technology for the formation of engineered microvascular network models and their biomedical applications

“…hPSC pericytes were essential for the neogenesis of these vessels which exhibited the presence of pericytes surrounding the engineered blood vessels [ 134 ]. Distinguishing perivascular cell types is challenging for hPSCs cell differentiation because of overlapping marker expression and comparable functions [ 135 , 136 ]. The genes related to endothelial cells such as PECAM1, VE-cad, and GATA-2 are strongly expressed after the formation and differentiation of ECs.…”