Vascular Biology

In most higher organisms, vessels play a fundamental role. They transport blood from the heart throughout the body and drain tissue fluid back into the blood circulation. The cells that line up the inner side of these vessels are called endothelial cells. In the human body they weigh approximately one kilogram and if all vessels are laid end-to-end together they could encompass the earth twice.

The group of Wolfgang Holnthoner focuses on basic functions of endothelial cells in the formation and growth of blood and lymphatic vessels. In tissue regeneration new vessels are expected to sprout so that organs can be supplied with oxygen and nutrients. Further research emphasis is put on:

  • Isolation of endothelial cells and their progenitor cells (EPC) from peripheral blood and fat tissue
  • Co-cultures of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells as tools for vascularization for tissue engineering
  • The role of endothelial cells in blood coagulation
  • The role of extracellular vesicles such as microparticles and exosomes in vascular biology
  • The influence of purinergic signaling on endothelial sprouting

The aim is to develop vascularization strategies that can be used in a clinical setting. Central for that is the characterization of artificial vascular structures. Furthermore, the regeneration of existing blood and lymphatic vessels represents a focus of the research in the endothelial cell group.

a.
a.
icon / people-search
Vascular Biology
Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Holnthoner
Group Leader jbystnat.ubyagubare@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Sarafina Purer, MSc
Research Associate fnensvan.chere@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Johannes Oesterreicher, MSc
PhD Student wbunaarf.brfgreervpure@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Tanja Zauner, BSc
Master student gnawn.mnhare@genhzn.yot.np.ng

Selected Publications

Hromada C, Hartmann J, Oesterreicher J, Stoiber A, Daerr A, Schädl B, Priglinger E, Teuschl-Woller AH, Holnthoner W, Heinzel J, Hercher D (2022). Occurrence of Lymphangiogenesis in Peripheral Nerve Autografts Contrasts Schwann Cell-Induced Apoptosis of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells In Vitro. Biomolecules. 2022 Jun 12;12(6):820. 
(free PDF).

Strohmeier K, Hofmann M, Jacak J, Narzt MS, Wahlmueller M, Mairhofer M, Schaedl B, Holnthoner W, Barsch M, Sandhofer M, Wolbank S, Priglinger E (2022). Multi-Level Analysis of Adipose Tissue Reveals the Relevance of Perivascular Subpopulations and an Increased Endothelial Permeability in Early-Stage Lipedema. Biomedicines. 2022 May 18;10(5):1163. 
(free PDF)

Trisko J, Fleck J, Kau S, Oesterreicher J, Holnthoner W (2022). Lymphatic and Blood Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles: A Story Yet to Be Written. Life (Basel). 2022 Apr 28;12(5):654. 
(free PDF)

Schneider J, Pultar M, Oesterreicher J, Bobbili MR, Mühleder S, Priglinger E, Redl H, Spittler A, Grillari J, Holnthoner W (2021) Cre mRNA Is Not Transferred by EVs from Endothelial and Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells during Vascular Network Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 14;22(8):4050. 
(free PDF)

Oesterreicher J, Pultar M, Schneider J, Mühleder S, Zipperle J, Grillari J, Holnthoner W (2021). Fluorescence-Based Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and Flow Cytometry for Characterization of Endothelial Extracellular Vesicle Release. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 4;21(23):9278.
(free PDF)

Mühleder S, Fuchs C, Basílio J, Szwarc D, Pill K, Labuda K, Slezak P, Siehs C, Pröll J, Priglinger E, Hoffmann C, Junger WG, Redl H, Holnthoner W (2019). Purinergic P2Y2 receptors modulate endothelial sprouting. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2019 Jul 5.

Nürnberger S, Lindner C, Maier J, Strohmeier K, Wurzer C, Slezak P, Suessner S, Holnthoner W, Redl H, Wolbank S, Priglinger E (2019). Adipose-tissue-derived therapeutic cells in their natural environment as an autologous cell therapy strategy: the microtissue-stromal vascular fraction. Eur Cell Mater. 2019 Feb 22;37:113-133.

Pill K, Melke J, Mühleder S, Pultar M, Rohringer S, Priglinger E, Redl HR, Hofmann S, Holnthoner W (2018). Microvascular Networks From Endothelial Cells and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells From Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow: A Comparison. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2018 Oct 25;6:156.
(free PDF)

Holnthoner W, Bonstingl C, Hromada C, Muehleder S, Zipperle J, Stojkovic S, Redl H, Wojta J, Schoechl H, Grillari J, Weilner S, Schlimp C. (2017). Endothelial Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles Size-dependently Exert Procoagulant Activity Detected by Thromboelastometry. SciRep 25th April 2017 : 3707 (2017)
(free PDF)

Hromada C, Muehleder S, Grillari J, Redl H, Holnthoner W. (2017). Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles – Promises and Challenges. Front Physiol. 2016; doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00275
(free PDF)

Knezevic L, Schaupper M, Mühleder S, Schimek K, Hasenberg T, Marx U, Priglinger E, Redl H, Holnthoner W. (2017). Engineering Blood and Lymphatic Microvascular Networks in Fibrin Matrices. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 5:25. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00025
(free PDF)

Schaupper MV, Jeltsch M, Rohringer S, Redl H, & Holnthoner W. (2016). Lymphatic vessels in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering. Tissue Eng Part B Rev, 22(5):395-407.

Schneider K, Aigner P, Monforte X, Nuernberger S, Holnthoner W, Ruenzler D, Redl H, & Teuschl AH. (2016). Decellularized human placenta chorion matrix as a favorable source of small diameter vascular grafts. Acta Biomaterialia, 29:125-34.

Pill K, Hofmann S, Redl H, & Holnthoner W. (2015). Vascularization mediated by mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue: a comparison. Cell Regen (Lond), 4:8.
(free PDF)

Hasenberg T, Muehleder S, Dotzler A, Bauer S, Labuda K, Holnthoner W, Redl H, Lauster R, & Marx U. (2015). Emulating Human Microcapillaries in a Multi-Organ-Chip Platform. J Biotechnol., 216:1-10.

Schweighofer B, Rohringer S, Proell J, & Holnthoner W. (2015). A microarray analysis of two distinct lymphatic endothelial cell populations. Genomics Data, 4:115-118.

Rohringer S, Holnthoner W*, Hackl M, Weihs AM , Rünzler D, Skalicky S, Krebiener M, Scheideler M, Pröll J, Gabriel C, Schweighofer B, Gröger M, Spittler A, Grillari J, & Redl H. (2014). Molecular and cellular effects of in vitro shockwave treatment on lymphatic endothelial cells. PLOS ONE, 9(12). *equally contributed first authorship.

Muehleder S, Ovsianikov A, Zipperle J, Redl H, & Holnthoner W. (2014). Connections matter: channeled hydrogels to improve vascularization. Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2:52.

Rohringer S, Hofbauer P, Schneider K, Husa AM, Feichtinger G, Peterbauer-Scherb A, Redl H, & Holnthoner W. (2014). Molecular mechanisms of vasculogenesis in 3D fibrin matrices mediated by the interaction of adipose-derived stem cells and endothelial cells. Angiogenesis, 17(4):921-933.

Vollert I, Seiffert M, Bachmair J, Sander M, Eder A, Conradi L, Vogelsang A, Schulze T, Uebeler J, Holnthoner W, Redl H, Reichenspurner H, Hansen A, & Eschenhagen T. (2014). In-vitro perfusion of engineered heart tissue through endothelialized channels. Tissue Eng Part A, 20(3-4):854-863.

Qin X, Torgersen J, Saf R, Muehleder S, Pucher N, Holnthoner W, Redl H, Ovsianikov A, Stampfl J, & Liska R. (2013). 3D microfabrication of protein hydrogels via two-photon-excited thiol-vinyl ester photopolymerization. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 51(22):4799-4810.

Hager G, Holnthoner W*, Wolbank S, Husa AM, Godthardt K, Redl H, & Gabriel C. (2013). Three specific antigens to isolate endothelial progenitor cells from human liposuction material. Cytotherapy, 15(11):1426-1435. *corresponding author.

Holnthoner W, Hohenegger K, Husa AM, Muehleder S, Meinl A, Peterbauer-Scherb A, & Redl H. (2012). Adipose-derived stem cells induce vascular tube formation of outgrowth endothelial cells in a fibrin matrix. J Tissue Eng Regen Med, 9(2):127-136.