Mechanisms of Gal 1-3Gal 1-4GlcNAc-R ( Gal) expression on porcine valve endothelial cells

Results: Porcine valvular endothelial cells grew rapidly on a gelatin substrate. Similar to our previous in vivo results, valve endothelial cells expressed Gal much less intensely than did aortic endothelial cells. Porcine aortic endothelial cells expressed an isolectin B4 (isolectin B4 lectin Bandeiraea simplicifolia) immunodetectable band at 135 kd that was not visible on porcine valve endothelial cells or on human vein endothelial cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction documented three transcripts of the Gal gene that were identically expressed on porcine valve and aortic endothelial cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed an almost identical surface profile between porcine aortic and valve endothelial cells, in contrast with human vein endothelial cells.