Spheroid Coculture of Human Gingiva-Derived Progenitor Cells With Endothelial Cells in Modified Platelet Lysate Hydrogels

Siddharth Shanbhag, Ahmad Rashad, Ellen Helgeland Nymark, Salwa Suliman, Catharina de Lange Davies, Andreas Stavropoulos, Anne Isine Bolstad, Kamal Mustafa
2021 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology  
Cell coculture strategies can promote angiogenesis within tissue engineering constructs. This study aimed to test the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cocultured with gingiva-derived progenitor cells (GPC) as spheroids in a xeno-free environment. Human platelet lysate (HPL) was used as a cell culture supplement and as a hydrogel matrix (HPLG) for spheroid encapsulation. HUVEC and HUVEC + GPC (1:1 or 5:1) spheroids were encapsulated in various HPLG
more » ... ns. Angiogenesis was assessed via in vitro sprouting and in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. HUVEC revealed characteristic in vitro sprouting in HPL/HPLG and this was significantly enhanced in cocultures with GPC (p < 0.05). A trend for greater sprouting was observed in 5:1 vs 1:1 HUVEC + GPC spheroids and in certain HPLG formulations (p > 0.05). Both HUVEC and HUVEC + GPC spheroids in HPLG revealed abundant and comparable neoangiogenesis in the CAM assay (p > 0.05). Spheroid coculture of HUVEC + GPC in HPLG represents a promising strategy to promote angiogenesis.
doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.739225 pmid:34513817 pmcid:PMC8427051 fatcat:md65e7uvbjdabbb5s2sa5lyqaq