[Influence of macrophages on some biological features of endothelial cells].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the co-culture model of human macrophage cell line (U937) with human vein umbilical cell line (ECV304), and to explore the feasibility of using concanavalin A (ConA) as U937 cell stimulator in regulating angiogenesis.


METHODS
ECV304 cells were cultured in vitro, and to which were respectively added U937 cells (1 x 10(5)), 25 microg/mL ConA, and U937 cell (1 x 10(5)) + ConA (25 microg/mL) after cell fusion rate reaching 60%, and then co-cultured for 48 hours. ECV 304 cells in conventional culture were used as controls. 3H-TdR incorporation test was employed to determine the DNA synthesis of vascular endothelial cells. Flow cytometry was used to determine the changes in the cell cycle, and RT-PCR was adopted to determine the expression of homeobox (HOXB2) mRNA.


RESULTS
After conA stimulation to ECV 304 co-cultured with U937 cells, the percentage of cells in S phase (48.860 +/- 2.290), the DNA synthesis [(5694 +/- 917) min(-1)], and the expression of HOXB2 mRNA (0.947 +/- 0.003) were obviously higher than those in control group [41.590 +/- 2.590 vs (2498 +/- 1109) min(-1) vs 0.646 +/- 0.004, P > 0.01]. There was no obvious difference in apoptosis among above stimulation methods (P >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
U937 cells activated by ConA can promote the proliferation of ECV304 cells and further regulate angiogenesis. HOXB2 gene is closely related to the endothelial proliferation.
Department of Burns, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
Liang
L
Liu
Ying
Y
Wang
Xiao-Qi
XQ
Ziiang
Xu-Sheng
XS
Liu
D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
C086061:HOXB2 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors