Using two-photon intravital imaging (IVM) and single cell transcriptome analysis, this study analyzed the in vivo behavior of engrafted MSCs and their dynamic interplay with the vasculature in injured bladders at the single-cell level. Two-photon IVM longitudinally monitored engrafted MSC in the bladder of live animals for 28 days after transplantation. The engrafted MSCs (green) were found to interact with the bladder vasculature (red) and progressively integrate as perivascular cells. Single cell analysis of the engrafted MSCs showed their pericyte nature. Among the genes characterizing the engrafted MSCs, FOS and CDK1 significantly modulated the in vitro core functions of MSCs and determined the in vivo engraftment and therapeutic potency of MSCs in the injured bladder. MSC; Mesenchymal stem cells, FOS; Fos Proto-Oncogene, CDK1; cyclin dependent kinase-1.
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