Basic fibroblast growth factor is essential to maintain endothelial progenitor cell phenotype in TR-BME2 cells

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) can differentiate into both endothelial cells and contractile smooth muscle cells (SMC). Previously we reported that TR-BME2 cells, a model for EPC, developed contractile SMC-like characteristics in culture medium deprived of endothelial cell growth factors (ECGF). The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of one of these factors, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on differentiation of EPC. First it was confirmed that bFGF receptor (FGFR-1) mRNA is expressed in TRBME2 cultured in both ECGF-rich and ECGF-deprived medium. When TR-BME2 cells were cultured in ECGF-deprived medium, they differentiated into contractile SMC. Expression of an undifferentiated state marker, CD133, and proliferation of TR-BME2 were both reduced by ECGF deprivation, but these changes were diminished in the presence of bFGF. mRNA expression of smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) and smooth muscle protein 22 (SM22), which are contractile SMC markers, was induced by deprivation of ECGF and the induction was suppressed by bFGF. In vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation assay, TR-BME2 cells formed tube structures in the presence of bFGF, but not in its absence. Our results indicate that bFGF is essential for the maintenance of EPC phenotype, serving to suppress differentiation to contractile SMC.