Normal and perturbed endothelial cells from canine femoral arteries and femoral veins exhibit heterogeneity in hemostatic properties and growth characteristics.
BACKGROUND
We sought to examine the heterogeneity of endothelial cells from the same anatomic site but different vascular systems and described von Willebrand factor (vWF) release and morphological change in response to injury-associated factor in femoral vessels from canine in vitro.


METHODS
Levels of hemostatic factors (vWF, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1(PAI-1), antithrombin III (ATIII), in tissue sections and cultured endothelial cells of canine femoral arteries and canine femoral veins were compared by the immunohistochemistry technique. In addition to comparing cell growth density and cell protein contents, cultured femoral arterial endothelial cells (FAECs) and cultured femoral venous endothelial cells (FVECs) were incubated with a series concentration of basic fibroblast factor (bFGF) (1, 10, 100 ng/ml) for up to 48 hours to test the amount of vWF secretion and morphological change.


RESULTS
Both in tissue sections and cultured cells, the levels of vWF are higher in FVECs than in FAECs. We were unable to differentiate the level of PAI-1 and ATIII difference between FAECs and FVECs. bFGF (10 ng/ml) significantly increased vWF secretion from cultured FAECs but not from FVECs. The size of cultured FAECs is smaller than of FVECs; however, FAECs have higher amounts of protein contents than FVECs.


CONCLUSIONS
These comparative studies provide evidence indicating that the characteristics of FVECs differ from those of FAECs. These differences may be indicated heterogeneity with either inherited or acquired thrombotic disease.
Tang
Ni-Hu
NH
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7010, USA.
Chen
Hong-I
HI
Lu
Li-Chun
LC
Meyers
Kenneth M
KM
D000818:Animals; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000502:physiology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000502:physiology
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000990:Antithrombin III