Identification of a rare subset of adipose tissue-resident progenitor cells, which express CD133 and TRPC3 as a VEGF-regulated Ca2+ entry channel

VEGF-induced Ca2+ signalling was investigated in CD133w(+)/VEGFR-2(+) progenitor cells isolated from human adipose stroma. Colonies derived from CD133(+) immunoselected cells displayed inhomogenous Ca2+ signals, with variable magnitude of VEGF-induced Ca2+ entry, which positively correlated with expression of the Ca2+ channel protein TRPC3. High levels of VEGF-induced Ca2+ entry and TRPC3 expression were preferentially detected in rim areas of expanding colonies. Dominant negative suppression of TRPC3 inhibited VEGF-induced Ca2+ entry into CD133+ cells. Our results identify TRPC3 as a key Ca2+ entry channel in a subset of CD133+ stem cells. We suggest TRPC3 as an essential determinant of cell fate in CD133+ progenitor-derived colonies. (c) 2008 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.