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Diagram of Endothelial Cells Location in the Body

Human Endothelial Cells Use in Research

September 20, 2015 / by Lifeline® Cell Technology

The Circulation System and Endothelial Cell Function

A healthy circulation system is critical for normal physiological function; Arteries, veins, and, capillaries transverse the body providing an essential blood supply to tissue. Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body tissues, while veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels and form a network that connects arteries and veins. These blood vessels are multilayered tubes that consist of outer layers of connective tissue and muscular layers of varying thickness, and an inner layer of endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells line the interior of blood vessels and are critical to blood vessel function. They have a vast capacity to migrate and induce formation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. Endothelial cell dysfunction is associated with a number of vascular abnormalities, including atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Endothelial cells and media can be used to investigate questions relating to:

  • Angiogenesis in normal and cancer settings
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Blood-endothelial interactions
  • Antihypertensive therapies

Studies Using Lifeline® Endothelial Cells

Hou et al. tested a siRNA delivery method using p5RHH, a peptide derivative of melittin, the main toxic component of honey bee venom that induces membrane pore formation. They demonstrated that p5RHH-mediated transfection is an effective method of siRNA delivery with no accompanying cytotoxicity, compared with Lipofectamine 2000. Lifeline® human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to illustrate that p5RHH-mediated STAT3 siRNA knockdown prevented cell migration in an in vitro model of angiogenesis. This study illustrates that p5RHH is an efficient siRNA delivery reagent that is effective in multiple cell types, including endothelial cells.

Loai et al. investigated the feasibility of simultaneous visualization of two cell populations labeled with Gadolinium or iron oxide and imaged them using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They were able to establish a method for labeling and tracking Lifeline® human aortic endothelial cells and Lifeline® smooth muscle cells, both of which contribute to blood vessel formation. The capability to image and monitor the behavior of two separate cell populations in the same space and time has significant potential in in vivo and clinical models.

Stroka et al. examined mechanisms of neutrophil trans-endothelial migration, which occurs when neutrophils migrate through the endothelial cell layer into a tissue as part of the immune response. They determined that neutrophil actin polymerization, myosin II and myosin light chain kinase contractility, and microtubule dynamics are essential for this process. The investigators cultured Lifeline® HUVECs with human neutrophils to study the dynamics of neutrophil migration through the HUVEC monolayer. The results of this study demonstrate that neutrophils play an active role in the biophysical mechanism of trans-endothelial migration.

Lifeline® Endothelial Cells and Culture Media

Lifeline® provides endothelial cells from multiple sources and endothelial cell culture media to assist your research, including:

Lifeline® Endothelial Cells

Lifeline® Cell Culture Media

How are you using human endothelial cells?

Have you used any of our endothelial cells or media? Tell us how you are using our products to answer your research questions!

 References:

  1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23380356
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22919479
  3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23626676

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