Human microvascular endothelial cells from different fetal organs demonstrate organ-specific CAM expression.
In this work, we isolated and produced long-term cultures of human fetal endothelial cells (fECs) deriving from different organs of the same 12-week-old embryos. Highly pure endothelium cultures were obtained from specimens of brain, heart, lung, liver, aorta and kidney by using magnetic microspheres coated with CD31 or CD34 specific endothelial antibodies. The endothelial nature of these cells was confirmed by the presence of von Willebrand Factor (vWf), Flk-1/VEGFR2 and CD31. The fECs cultures showed organ-specific differences as regards to the morphological appearance, the growth rate and the expression of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) before or after stimulation by the inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. For instance, TNF-alpha showed a specific effect on fetal heart ECs by stimulating E-selectin expression. Our findings indicate that fECs may represent an innovative tool to study differences among ECs of different vascular districts of the same individual, thus increasing the possibility to compare many pathological aspects of human adult and fetal microvasculature.
Invernici
G
G
SSD Neurobiology and Neuroregenerative Therapies, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy. gloria@bitbit.it
Ponti
D
D
Corsini
E
E
Cristini
S
S
Frigerio
S
S
Colombo
A
A
Parati
E
E
Alessandri
G
G
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2