Cell-to-cell junction structures play a key role in cell growth rate control and cell polarization. In endothelial cells (EC), these structures are also involved in regulation of vascular permeability and leukocyte extravasation. To identify novel components in EC intercellular junctions, mAbs against these cells were produced and selected using a morphological screening by immunofluorescence m...

PURPOSE To develop methods for the culture of microvascular endothelial cells (EC) from Macaca monkey retina and to investigate their propagation and survival in vitro. METHODS Endothelial cells from capillary fragments were cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes in QB-58 serum-free medium containing 20 microliters/ml bovine retinal extract, 90 micrograms/ml heparin, 10% fetal bovine serum, an...

BACKGROUND In vitro primary cultures of microvascular endothelial cells from endocrine pancreas are difficult to obtain, but can be a very helpful tool for studies of islet biology, transplantation and regenerative medicine. METHODS We applied a protocol recently described for the isolation and culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells (EC) on human pancreatic islets. EC obtained were ...

purpose: to evaluate the effect of human amniotic fluid (haf) on the growth of human corneal endothelial cells (hcecs) and to establish an in vitro method for the expansion of hcecs. methods: hcecs were cultured in dmem-f12 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (fbs). confluent monolayer cultures were trypsinized and passaged using 20% fbs- or 10%, 20%, or 30% haf-containing media. cell prol...

AIMS Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) promote revascularization of ischaemic tissues although their underlying mechanism of action and the consequences of delivering varying number of these cells for therapy remain unknown. This study investigates molecular mechanisms underpinning CAC modulation of blood vessel formation. METHODS AND RESULTS CACs at low (2 × 105 cells/mL) and mid (2 × 106 ...

We previously demonstrated that cyclic stretch of cardiac myocytes activates paracrine signaling via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leading to angiogenesis. The present study tested the hypothesis that cyclic stretch upregulates tyrosine kinase receptors in rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells (RCMEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). VEGF receptor-2 (Flk-1)...

Dicer is a key enzyme involved in the maturation of microRNAS (miRNAs). miRNAs have been shown to be regulators of gene expression participating in the control of a wide range of physiological pathways. To assess the role of Dicer and consequently the importance of miRNAs in the biology and functions of human endothelial cells (EC) during angiogenesis, we globally reduced miRNAs in ECs by speci...

Vascular endothelial cells (EC) play an active role in the synthesis and assembly of components of the fibrinolytic system and the generation of the major fibrinolytic protease plasmin. However, the reciprocal effects of plasmin on EC function have not been previously examined. We have studied the actions of plasmin on the production of prostacyclin (PGI2) by cultured human umbilical vein (HUVE...

Studying molecular mechanisms of vascular endothelial function in humans is difficult in part because of limited access to arteries. Access to peripheral veins is more practical. We determined if differences in protein expression of endothelial cells (EC) collected from a peripheral artery are reflected in measurements made on EC obtained from peripheral veins. EC were collected from the brachi...

Arteriolar vasoreactivity tightly regulates tissue-specific blood flow and contributes to systemic blood pressure (BP) but becomes dysfunctional in the setting of cardiovascular disease. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is known to regulate BP via the kidney and by vasoconstriction in smooth muscle cells. Although endothelial cells (EC) express MR, the contribution of EC-MR to BP and resista...