Vascular morphogenesis and differentiation after adoptive transfer of human endothelial cells to immunodeficient mice.
To establish a model for adoptive transfer of endothelial cells, we transferred human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to immunodeficient mice (Rag 2(-/-)). HUVECs were suspended as single cells in Matrigel and injected subcutaneously in the abdominal midline. Within 10 days after injection, HUVECs expressed pseudopod-like extensions and began to accumulate in arrays. By day 20, we observed human vessels that contained erythrocytes, and on day 30 we observed perivascular cells that expressed smooth muscle actin, thus resembling mature vessels. Throughout the experimental period, HUVECs bound Ulex europaeus lectin and expressed CD31, VE-cadherin, von Willebrand factor, as well as ICAM-2. A fraction of the cells also expressed the proliferation marker Ki67. Moreover, the sialomucin CD34, which is rapidly down-regulated in cultured HUVECs, was reinduced in vivo. However, we found no reinduction of CD34 in cells cultured inside or on top of Matrigel in vitro. We also injected cells suspended in Matrigel around the catheter tip of implanted osmotic pumps. Delivery of recombinant human interferon-gamma by this route led to strong induction of MHC class II and ICAM-1 on the human vessels. In conclusion, isolated human endothelial cells can integrate with the murine vascular system to form functional capillaries and regain in vivo properties.
Skovseth
Dag K
DK
Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. d.k.skovseth@farmasi.uio.no
Yamanaka
Takeshi
T
Brandtzaeg
Per
P
Butcher
Eugene C
EC
Haraldsen
Guttorm
G
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000099152:Cadherin 5; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; C499311:RAG2 protein, human; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen