Optimizing vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Martikkala, Riku (2026)
2026
Master's Programme in Biomedical Technology
Lääketieteen ja terveysteknologian tiedekunta - Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2026-03-13
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202603123193
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202603123193
Tiivistelmä
This thesis as part of cardiovascular research is supporting work for developing better and more accurate disease models for coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases, because these still cause the highest mortality worldwide.
The advancement of cell technology and culturing techniques, especially with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) made from patient‑originated somatic cells, has opened possibilities to develop new experimental setups that can reduce the need for embryonic stem cells or animal testing, which both have ethical concerns and in many cases give results that do not match human biology very well.
The main goal of this thesis was to optimize a successful and repeatable protocol for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation using human iPSCs. The success of this process was examined with immunocytochemistry and gene expression studies comparing the produced iPSC‑VSMCs with commercial human primary smooth muscle cells.
The two‑dimensional cell cultures in 12‑well plates showed promising results. Although the process is long and needs several stages, VSMCs can be differentiated from iPSCs through mesoderm and epicardium‑related steps. The VSMC markers were detectable in both gene expression and fluorescent imaging studies, which supports that the obtained cells can be used in further applications like calcification studies related to atherosclerosis. Additionally, the successful differentiation process gives possibilities for future microfluidic coculture setups that mimic artery‑like environments.
The advancement of cell technology and culturing techniques, especially with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) made from patient‑originated somatic cells, has opened possibilities to develop new experimental setups that can reduce the need for embryonic stem cells or animal testing, which both have ethical concerns and in many cases give results that do not match human biology very well.
The main goal of this thesis was to optimize a successful and repeatable protocol for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation using human iPSCs. The success of this process was examined with immunocytochemistry and gene expression studies comparing the produced iPSC‑VSMCs with commercial human primary smooth muscle cells.
The two‑dimensional cell cultures in 12‑well plates showed promising results. Although the process is long and needs several stages, VSMCs can be differentiated from iPSCs through mesoderm and epicardium‑related steps. The VSMC markers were detectable in both gene expression and fluorescent imaging studies, which supports that the obtained cells can be used in further applications like calcification studies related to atherosclerosis. Additionally, the successful differentiation process gives possibilities for future microfluidic coculture setups that mimic artery‑like environments.