title: Stimulation of cell growth and inhibition of prostacyclin production by heparin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
abstract: We characterized human umbilical vein (HUV) endothelial cells as to cell growth and prostacyclin production to get a better understanding of the properties of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) stimulated HUV endothelial cell growth. Heparin further enhanced the cell growth stimulated by ECGS, but not the cell growth stimulated by FGF or in the absence of these growth factors. In the presence of ECGS, the prostacyclin-producing capacity of the cells was inhibited by heparin. However, in the presence of FGF of in the absence of growth factors, heparin did not inhibit prostacyclin production. Therefore, it is likely that there is a specific correlation between heparin and growth factors for endothelial cells in the blood vessel to maintain nonthrombogenicity properly. Heparin-treated cultures may not be suitable for some examinations of prostacyclin production by vascular endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D006493:Heparin; D011464:Epoprostenol