title: Human lung telocytes could promote the proliferation and angiogenesis of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the previous studies, telocytes were found near the capillaries in many tissues, especially on the extracellular matrix of blood vessels and positive to CD34 and c-kit. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore if telocytes could produce angiogenesis associated cytokines, promote the proliferation and the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human lung telocytes were isolated and cultured, and were identified by immunofluorescence cytochemistry with CD34, c-kit and vimentin. Telocytes conditional media (TCM) was prepared, and the expressions of angiogenesis associated cytokines in TCM were detected by ELISA. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were cultured with DMEM media or TCM for 72 hours. The proliferation of HPMECs was continuously detected with CCK-8 kit at an interval of 12 hours. HPMECs were also injured by lipopolysaccharide, and cultured with TCM and DMEM respectively, and the tube formation capacity was detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telocytes were positive for CD34, c-kit and vimentin. The expressions of VEGF and EGF in TCM were significantly higher, the proliferation of HPMECs cultured with TCM significantly increased, and the tube formation of HPMECs injured by endotoxin was improved with the culture of TCM, as compared with the culture of DMEM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides the evidence that human lung telocytes could produce the growth factors, such as VEGF and EGF. Telocytes conditional media induced the proliferation of pulmonary endothelial cells and prevented from endotoxin-induced compromise of pulmonary endothelial angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of thoracic surgery, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Xiaoke
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Mengjia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Chunxue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of thoracic surgery, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Fenglin Rd, No 180, Xuhui Dist, Shanghai, 320003 China.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Angiogenesis; EGF; Human lung; Proliferation; Telocytes; VEGF