P38α MAP Kinase-Deficient Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells can Differentiate to Endothelial Cells, Smooth Muscle Cells, and Neurons

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2007

Department

Biological Sciences

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

p38 MAP kinase α (p38α) regulates various cellular processes in adult cells, but little is known about its function in stem cells. We investigated the potential of wild type and p38α deficient mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and neurons. Our differentiation methods allowed simultaneous development of all these cell types. ECs formed monolayers similar to mature ECs and could assemble into vessel‐like structures. SMCs had well‐organized actin filaments with morphology similar to adult SMCs. Neurons exhibited well‐developed cell bodies and elongated axons. Deletion of the p38α gene did not significantly compromise ESC differentiation since p38α−/− cells could express cell‐specific markers and displayed similar overall morphology to the cells differentiated from p38α+/+ ESCs. Although p38α regulates various cellular activities of adult SMCs, ECs, and neurons, our data demonstrate that p38α is not essential for ESC differentiation to these cell types. Developmental Dynamics 236:3383–3392, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Publication Title

Developmental Dynamics

Volume

236

Issue

12

First Page

3383

Last Page

3392

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