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<div><font color="#0000FF"><b>Subject: 11/15</b></font></div>
<div><font color="#0000FF"><b>Stem Cell Lecture</b></font></div>
<div><font color="#0000FF"><b>Dr. Shulamit Levenberg,
Technion</b></font></div>
<hr>
<div>Who: Dr. Shulamit Levenberg, Technion Senior Lecturer and
former post-doctoral student in the Langer Lab. Recently recognized in
the<br>
Scientific American 50 as one of the leading scientists in stem cell
research.<br>
<br>
What: "Vascularization of Engineered Tissues Using Human
Embryonic Stem Cells"<br>
<br>
When: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, 10:00 am<br>
<br>
Where: Room 9-057<br>
<br>
Sponsored by Hibur: An MIT-Technion Connection ,
http://hibur.mit.edu<br>
<br>
Abstract:<br>
<x-tab>
</x-tab>Vascularization of engineered tissue constructs, using
endothelial cells or progenitors seeded on biodegradable polymer
scaffolds, can provide new approach for inducing vessel network
formation in vitro and in vivo.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>Embryonic stem cells have the capability to
differentiate and form blood vessels de novo in a process called
vasculogenesis. We have shown that human embryonic stem cells (hESC)
can differentiate into endothelial cells forming vascular-like
structures when formation of embryoid bodies is induced and that these
cells can be isolated and grown in culture. The embryonic endothelial
cells can differentiate into vessel-like structures in vitro, and in
vivo, when seeded on polymer scaffolds and implanted subcutaneously
into immuno-deficient mice. We have also developed an approach to
engineer three-dimensional human tissue structures using early
differentiating hESC and further inducing their differentiation in a
supportive three-dimensional environment such as PLLA/PLGA polymer
scaffolds. We have shown that variation of growth factor conditions
induced formation of complex tissue structures with features of
various committed embryonic tissues and demonstrated the presence of
three-dimensional capillary-like networks displaying endothelial
cell-associated surface molecules throughout the tissue construct. In
vivo, the hESC constructs recruited and anastamosed with the host
vascular system.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>To improve
vascularization of engineered skeletal muscle tissue we induced
endothelial vessel networks in engineered skeletal muscle tissue
constructs using a three-dimensional multi-culture system consisting
of myoblasts, embryonic fibroblasts and endothelial cells, co seeded
on highly porous, biodegradable polymer scaffolds. Analysis of the
conditions for induction and stabilization of the vessels in vitro,
showed that addition of embryonic fibroblasts promoted formation and
stabilization of the endothelial vessels. In vivo results show that
pre-vascularization improves vascularization, blood perfusion and
survival of the muscle tissue construct after transplantation.<br>
<br>
<br>
For more information, visit http://hibur.mit.edu, or contact
hibur@mit.edu.<br>
</div>
<div>Hibur: the MIT-Technion Link is sponsored by MIT Hillel, with
funding from the Boston-Haifa Connection of Combined Jewish
Philanthropies, and the Avi Chai Israel Advocacy Grant from
International Hillel.</div>
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