Abstract:
Objective This study aims to investigate the potential of colon cancer cells to differentiate into vascular endothelial cells in endothelial-induced specific environment.
Methods Three colon cancer cells with different differentiated level HCT116 (poorly differentiated), SW480 (moderately differentiated), HT29 (well differentiated) were cultured in the conditioned medium containing the endothelial-inducing factors for 15 days respectively. The expression of vascular endothelial indicators Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1、Endothelial cell adhesion molecule CD34 was detected via western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to examine CD31 and CD34 expression level in HCT116 after cultured in endothelial-inducing medium and ordinary medium for 15 days respectively, and the three-dimensional (3D) culture was used to detect the abililty of in vitro tube-like structure formation.
Results Western blot showed that CD31 and CD34 expression level were negatively correlated with degree of differentiation in colon can-cer cells. CD31 and CD34 expression in endothelial-inducing medium HCT116 cells (poorly differentiated) were higher then in the normal medium, while the CD31 and CD34 expression in SW480 cells (moderately differentiated) and HT29 cells (well differentiated) in the two cultural mediums were not notably changed. Immunofluorescence staining illustrated that CD31 and CD34 expression in HCT116 cells cultured in endothelial-inducing medium increased compared with those cultured in ordinary medium. In vitro three-dimensional culture demonstrated that ability of tube-like structure formation was notably enhanced after endothelial-inducing cultured.
Conclusions Endothelial-inducing medium could promote colon cancer cells with strong stemness differentiate toward vascular endothelial cells.
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