In vitro Hematopoietic and Endothelial Potential of flk-1-/- Embryonic Stem Cells and Embryos
Abstract
Mice deficient in the Flk-1 receptor tyrosine kinase are known to die in utero because of defective vascular and hematopoietic development. Here, we show that flk-1-/- embryonic stem cells are nevertheless able to differentiate into hematopoietic and endothelial cells in vitro, although they give rise to a greatly reduced number of blast colonies, a measure of hemangioblast potential. Furthermore, normal numbers of hematopoietic progenitors are found in 7.5-day postcoitum flk-1-/- embryos, even though 8.5-day postcoitum flk-1-/- embryos are known to be deficient in such cells. Our results suggest that hematopoietic/endothelial progenitors arise independently of Flk-1, but that their subsequent migration and expansion require a Flk-1-mediated signal.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- March 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.96.5.2159
- Bibcode:
- 1999PNAS...96.2159S