Metabolic profiles in porcine Aortic Vascular Precursor cells and lipopolysaccharide treatment effect

The undifferentiated porcine Aortic Vascular Precursor cells (pAVPCs) are stem cells endowed with self-renewal capability and with the ability to differentiate in all cell types involved in vessel structure [1]. In general, the rapid proliferative potential in stem cells supports anabolism to synthesize the building blocks for macromolecules and biostructures, whereas differentiating cells switch to catabolism to support the bioenergetic demand [2]. After the 1st and 2nd cell passages the pAVPCs associate glycolysis with cellular respiration to mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Conversely, the pAVPCs from 3rd to 8th passages do not show any mitochondrial ATP turnover. Interestingly, when the 1st passage cells are exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) at 0.1 or 10 μg/mL for 4h, ATP turnover is countered, although cells retain their spare respiratory capacity. Moreover, the inhibition of glycolytic efficiency decreases the glycolytic reserve. In contrast, pAVPCs at the 5th passage exposed to 10 μg/mL LPS for 4h increase the synthesis of mitochondrial ATP. The whole of data indicate that pAVPCs adapt their metabolism according to lineage features and assay conditions.