Acute effect of endothelins on intercellular communication of human embryonic stem cells

Raymond C.B. Wong, Kathryn C. Davidson, Jessie Leung, Martin F. Pera, Alice Pébay

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Other

Abstract

Endothelin (ET) family comprises three isoforms, ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3 that bind to two receptors ET-A and ET-B. Upon hESC differentiation, ET-1 and ET-B are respectively up- and down-regulated, suggesting a potential role of ETs in hESC biology. Here we show expression of ET receptors in hESC and demonstrate that ET-1 and ET-2 inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), while ET-3 does not. Pre-incubation of the cell cultures with the two specific antagonists of ET-A and ET-B, BQ123 and BQ788 respectively, demonstrate that inhibition of GJIC by ETs is mediated by ET-A. Long-term treatment of hESC with ET-1 indicates no visible effect on hESC maintenance of pluripotency markers, as assessed by expression of the hESC markers Oct-4, GCTM-2 and TG-30. Altogether these data show that hESC are target cells of ETs.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHuman Mesenchymal and Embryonic Stem Cells
EditorsPrasad S. Koka
Place of PublicationUnited States
PublisherNova Science Publishers
Pages233-246
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9781613240045, 9781620819098
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Publication series

NameNova Biomedical
PublisherNova Science Publishers
NameCell Biology Research Progress
PublisherNova Science Publishers

Keywords

  • Endothelin
  • Gap junction
  • Gap junctional intercellular communication
  • Human embryonic stem cells

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