title: Cell type-specific aspects in biocompatibility testing: the intercellular contact in vitro as an indicator for endothelial cell compatibility.
abstract: Endothelial cells cover the inner surface of blood vessels and form the interface between the blood and the tissues. Endothelial cells are involved in regulating barrier function, which is maintained by the interendothelial cell contacts. These interendothelial cell contacts are established by the interaction of different molecules. The maintenance of the barrier requires an appropriate signalling between these molecules. Thus, a number of different signalling pathways are integrated within interendothelial contacts. Since endothelial cells are important in tissue-implant interactions (especially for stent materials) this study examines the expression pattern of different interendothelial contact molecules to determine the usefulness in the analysis of biocompatibility in vitro. The effects of different pro-inflammatory and toxic stimuli and contact of human microvascular endothelial cells to metallic surfaces were examined for their impact on the pattern of interendothelial contact molecules. Striking modifications in the arrangement of these molecules were induced and the mode of modification was dependent on the tested compound. Thus, examining the pattern of expression of specific interendothelial contact molecules in vitro may be useful for testing the endothelial cell compatibility of biomaterials and their corrosion products.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany. kirsten.peters@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsaryk
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eisenbarth
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breme
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000166:cytology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials