Forward programming of human induced pluripotent stem cells via the ETS variant transcription factor 2: rapid, reproducible, and cost-effective generation of highly enriched, functional endothelial cells

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction plays a key role in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease. However, studying these disorders in ECs from patients is challenging; hence, the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and their in vitro differentiation into ECs represents a very promising approach. Still, the generation of hiPSC-derived ECs (hECs) remains demanding as a cocktail of growth factors and an intermediate purification step are required for hEC enrichment. Therefore, we probed the utility of a forward programming approach using transgenic hiPSC lines.

We have used the transgenic hiPSC line PGP1 ETV2 isoform 2 to explore the in vitro differentiation of hECs via doxycycline-dependent induction of the ETS variant transcription factor 2 (ETV2) and compared these with a standard differentiation protocol for hECs using non-transgenic control hiPSCs. The transgenic hECs were highly enriched without an intermediate purification step and expressed—as non-transgenic hECs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells—characteristic EC markers. The viability and yield of transgenic hECs were strongly improved by applying EC growth medium during differentiation. This protocol was successfully applied in two more transgenic hiPSC lines yielding reproducible results with low line-to-line variability. Transgenic hECs displayed typical functional properties, such as tube formation and LDL uptake, and a more mature phenotype than non-transgenic hECs. Transgenic hiPSCs preferentially differentiated into the arterial lineage; this was further enhanced by adding a high concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor to the medium. We also demonstrate that complexing lentivirus with magnetic nanoparticles and application of a magnetic field enables efficient transduction of transgenic hECs.

We have established a highly efficient, cost-effective, and reproducible differentiation protocol for the generation of functional hECs via forward programming. The transgenic hECs can be genetically modified and are a powerful tool for disease modelling, tissue engineering, and translational purposes.