Researchers at Indiana University have identified a previously unrecognized cell type that participates in building new blood vessels in humans. The discovery, detailed in Nature Communications, expands the understanding of how the vascular system forms and repairs itself. While endothelial cells are well known for lining blood vessels and guiding their growth, scientists found that a distinct class of cells, named vasculogenic fibroblasts, can also contribute directly to the creation of new vascular networks. This finding adds a new layer to the biology of angiogenesis and suggests a broader set of cellular players that respond to tissue needs during health and disease.
The study demonstrates that vasculogenic fibroblasts become active in response to injury, signaling a coordinated effort among multiple cell types to reestablish perfusion in damaged tissue. In healthy individuals, these cells can help accelerate healing by forming microvascular connections that restore blood flow. In individuals with metabolic disorders like diabetes, the capacity to generate these specialized progenitors may be compromised, potentially limiting natural repair processes and contributing to chronic wounds and poor tissue viability. The work highlights how patient-specific factors can influence the body’s regenerative toolkit and suggests new angles for monitoring vascular health in diverse populations.
To explore these insights, researchers conducted laboratory experiments using tissue models that simulate diabetes-related vascular dysfunction. They demonstrated that by reprogramming tissue environments to favor vasculogenic fibroblast activity, blood flow improved and wound healing accelerated in diabetic models. A key element of this approach involved a cutting-edge device called the TNT nanochip, which can deliver a signaling molecule to skin tissue in a fraction of a second. This rapid modulation of the local cellular milieu enabled researchers to trigger vasculogenic fibroblast activity and observe meaningful gains in perfusion and tissue repair in controlled settings.
The implications of promoting new blood vessel formation extend to a wide range of conditions characterized by insufficient blood supply, including ischemic diseases where restoring circulation is crucial for tissue viability. Conversely, there is a need in oncology to limit vascular growth to slow tumor progression. The identification of vasculogenic fibroblasts offers a potential dual avenue: therapies that stimulate vessel formation where it is beneficial, and strategies to suppress unwanted angiogenesis in cancer. As scientists continue to map the signals and networks that govern these cells, patient-specific treatment plans in both the United States and Canada could become more precise, aligning intervention timing with the body’s natural regenerative rhythm. With continued research, vasculogenic fibroblasts may become a cornerstone of novel therapeutic approaches for a spectrum of vascular-related diseases and wound-healing challenges (Nature Communications).