OBJECTIVETo establish a method for the reliable isolation and culture of infantile hemangioma endothelial cells (HemECs) in vitro.

METHODSProliferative hemangioma specimens were digested by collagenase to form a single cell suspension. The HemECs were isolated using anti-CD31 coated dynabeads. The CD31+ cells were grown in fibronectin coated dishes. HemECs were identified by morphological characteristics and immunocytochemistry. The cells were also examined for their ability to intake LDL.

RESULTSThe method enabled the rapid isolation of HemECs that demonstrated typical endothelial cobblestone morphology in culture. The cells were positively stained for CD31, vWF. They also were labeled with DiI-Ac-LDL.

CONCLUSIONSThis technique can effectively isolate endothelial cells from the proliferative hemangiomas. These cells could be further used to research the mechanism of proliferation and degeneration of infantile hemangioma.