Angiogenesis has an essential role in many pathophysiologies. Here, we show that phospholipase C-β3 (PLC-β3) isoform regulates endothelial cell function and retinal angiogenesis. Silencing of PLC-β3 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) significantly delayed proliferation, migration and capillary-like tube formation. In addition, mice lacking PLC-β3 showed impaired retinal angiogenesis with delayed endothelial proliferation, reduced endothelial cell activation, abnormal vessel formation and hemorrhage. Finally, tumor formation was significantly reduced in mice lacking PLC-β3 and showed irregular size and shape of blood vessels. These results suggest that regulation of endothelial function by PLC-β3 may contribute to angiogenesis.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Mice ; Phospholipases* ; Retinaldehyde*

The cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) influences endothelial cell survival, proliferation, inflammatory response, and angiogenesis in response to various angiogenic stimuli. In this study, we investigate the involvement of HO-1 in the angiogenic activity of orexin-A. We showed that orexin-A stimulates expression and activity of HO-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, we showed that inhibition of HO-1 by tin (Sn) protoporphryin-IX (SnPP) reduced orexin-A-induced angiogenesis in vivo and ex vivo. Orexin-A-stimulated endothelial tube formation and chemotactic activity were also blocked in SnPP-treated vascular endothelial cells. Orexin-A treatment increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and antioxidant response element (ARE) luciferase activity, leading to induction of HO-1. Collectively, these findings indicate that HO-1 plays a role as an important mediator of orexin-A-induced angiogenesis, and provide new possibilities for therapeutic approaches in pathophysiological conditions associated with angiogenesis.
Antioxidant Response Elements ; Endothelial Cells* ; Heme Oxygenase-1* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Luciferases ; Tin ; Orexins

OBJECTIVETo study the cultural method and identification of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and investigate the expression of tyrosine kinase-2 with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor homology domains(Tie-2) in HUVECs.

METHODSHUVECs were isolated from umbilical veins by the technique of irrigative digestion, and were cultivated in plates. The cells were identified by VIII monoclonal antibody. Tie-2 mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SABC immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSHUVECs could adhere to the plates completely after 24 hours, and confluence a monolayer 4-5 days later. The band of Tie-2 mRNA was obviously and the expression of Tie-2 protein was strongly positive by immunocytochemistry in HUVECs. The positive rate was over 85%.

CONCLUSIONHighly purified endothelial cells were isolated. And there were overexpression of Tie-2 in HUVECs.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Saccharomyces albicans (S. albicans) on the cell cycle distribution and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECV304 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe line of ECV304 cultured in vitro were divided into four groups which were treated by S. albicans supernatant, S. albicans inactivated bacilli, supernatant and inactivated bacilli mixture, normal culture medium. The proliferous effect of ECV304 induced by supernatant, inactivated bacilli, supernatant and inactivated bacilli mixture using the methods of MTT, cell count, microscope and flow cytometry were conducted.

RESULTSIn the condition of different times and different culture concentrations, ECV304 cells incubated with 4-fold diluted S. albicans supernatant for 48 h increased the proliferation rate. The S and G2/M population of ECV304 cells increased after incubated with S. albicans supernatant for 40 h, which showed significant increasing cell proliferation index (PI) (P < 0.05). The PI of the cells treated by inactivated bacilli showed no significant change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS. albicans could induce ECV304 cell proliferation which depends on the release of metabolic products of S. albicans.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of non-Saccharomyces albicans metabolic products on the cell cycle distribution and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECV304 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe parallel dilution supernatant of Saccharomyces tropicalis, Saccharomyces krusei and Saccharomyces glabrata were prepared, and 1, 4, 16-fold(s) diluted concentration and control group were set up. The line of human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECV304 was cultured in vitro and treated by non-Saccharomyces albicans supernatant. The proliferous effect of ECV304 induced by non-Saccharomyces albicans supernatant after 24, 48, 72 h was detected by the methods of MTT, and the changes of cell density and cycle after 48 h were investigated by inverted microscope and flow cytometry.

RESULTSAt the 24th hour, all of the higher concentration (1-fold) of non-Saccharomyces albicans supernatant and the 4-folds diluted Saccharomyces krusei could promote ECV304 proliferation(P < 0.05). After adding various non-Saccharomyces albicans supernatant at 48h and 72th hour, Saccharomyces krusei supernatant and Saccharomyces glabrata supernatant significantly increased proliferation rate of ECV304, while Saccharomyces tropicalis supernatant group showed no significant change no matter which concentration was tested. At 48th hour after adding the non-Saccharomyces albicans supernatant, the ECV304 cells density treated by Saccharomyces krusei supernatant and Saccharomyces glabrata supernatant were significantly higher under the inverted microscope. The G0/G1 population of ECV304 cells decreased while cell proliferation index (PI) increased after incubated with Saccharomyces krusei supernatant and Saccharomyces glabrata supernatant for 48 hours (P < 0.05). Saccharomyces tropicalis group showed no significant change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe metabolic products of Sacharoymces krusei and Saccharomyces glabrata could induce proliferation of ECV304 cell, which suggests non-Saccharomyces albicans should be undergone more attention clinically in detection and treatment.

The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to be involved in the transformation of vascular endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EndMT has been confirmed that occur in various pathologic conditions. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a potent stimulator of the vascular endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (ATRvD1) has been known to be involved in the resolution of inflammation, but whether it has effects on TGF-β1-induced EndMT is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AT-RvD1 on the EndMT of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells line (HUVECs). Treatment with TGF-β1 reduced the expression of Nrf2 and enhanced the level of F-actin, which is associated with paracellular permeability. The expression of endothelial marker VE-cadherin in HUVEC cells was reduced, and the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin was enhanced. AT-RvD1 restored the expression of Nrf2 and vimentin and enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin. AT-RvD1 did also affect the migration of HUVEC cells. Inhibitory κB kinase 16 (IKK 16), which is known to inhibit the NF-κB pathway, had an ability to increase the expression of Nrf2 and was associated with the inhibition effect of AT-RvD1 on TGF-β1-induced EndMT, but it had no effect on TGF-β1-induced EndMT alone. Smad7, which is a key regulator of TGF-β/Smads signaling by negative feedback loops, was significantly increased with the treatment of AT-RvD1. These results suggest the possibility that AT-RvD1 suppresses the TGF-β1-induced EndMT through increasing the expression of Smad7 and is closely related to oxidative stress.
Actins ; Endothelial Cells ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Oxidative Stress* ; Permeability ; Phosphotransferases ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Umbilical Veins ; Vimentin

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on dendritic cell (DC) development. First, HUVEC were isolated from human umbilical cord by collagenase digestion, and then the morphology, immunophenotypes and functions were identified. Furthermore, the HUVEC were cocultured with CD14(+) monocytes under the cytokine condition for detecting the influence of HUVEC on differentiation of CD14(+) cells to DC. The phenotype of dendritic cells derived from CD14(+) cells was analyzed by flow cytometry, the immunoregulatory function of DC was tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The change of IL-6 and VEGF as well as EPK and p38 signal pathway were analyzed by neutral antibody experiment and Western blot. The results showed that HUVEC isolated from human umbilical cord were characterized by spindle-shaped morphology, homogenous immunophenotypes (vWF(+)CD31(+)CD73(+)CD45(-)HLA-DR(-)CD86(-)CD34(low)), Dil-Ac-LDL incorporation ability and forming capillary-like structures. Following stimulation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin-4 (IL-4), HUVEC cocultures could inhibit the initial differentiation of CD14(+) monocyte to DC. Interestingly, IL-6 and VEGF enhanced the suppression effect of HUVEC on generation of DC via activation of the ERK or p38 mitogen activated protein kinase pathway. It is concluded that HUVEC are involved in DC development and can suppress the differentiation of monocyte to DC.
Cell Differentiation ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology

Adenosine ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable cell line overexpression heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mediated by a modified lentivirus system and identify its function.

METHODSThe HO-1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the modified pLentiLox3.7 expression vectors. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEK293T cells and the HO-1 was detected by Western blot. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEK293T cells to produce the viruses, with the helping plasmids including plp1, plp2, and VSVG. HEK293T cells were infected by the viruses and the cells that can express HO-1 were identified by Western blot. The reactive oxygen species were detected in the HO-1-overexpression HEK293T cells and the normal cells after the adding of hydrogen peroxide. The same experiment was performed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

RESULTSThe stable cell line that can overexpress HO-1 was established, which was verified by Western blot. The reactive oxygen species in the HO-1-overexpression HEK293T cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells decreased obviously after exposure to hydrogen peroxide.

CONCLUSIONSThe lentivirus-carrying HO-1 was successfully packaged and the stable cell line overexpression HO-1 was established. HO-1 can play a protective role in the course of oxidative damage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the damaging of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) induced by antiplatelet integrin β3 antibodies in vitro. METHODS: The serum from 36 chronic ITP patients were collected, flow cytometry and monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of platelet antigen (MAIPA) assay were used to collect antiplatelet integrin β3 antibodies from the serum of the patients. After HUVEC were treated by ITP patient serum (PS) containing anti-integrin β3 antibodies, the cell damage was detected by Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, the expression of apoptosis-related gene Bax was detected by Reverse transcription-Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and expression of Apoptosis-related signaling pathway protein Akt and related protein Bax were detected by Western blot. HUVEC were treated by PS combined with Akt activator SC79, the cells damage were detected by LDH assay, apoptosis of the cells were detected by flow cytometry, the expression of apoptosis-related gene Bax was detected by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Among 36 cases of serum from the chronic ITP patients, 5 patients' serum containing anti-integrin β3 antibodies were collected. After HUVEC was treated by PS, the viability of LDH was significant increased（P<0.05）, so as for the apoptosis of the cells（P<0.05）, the expression of gene and protein of Bax was increased up-regulated（P<0.05）, the protein expression of pAkt was down-regulated（P<0.05）. Comparing with HUVEC cultured with PS alone, the viability of LDH of HUVEC treated by PS combined with SC79 was significantly reduced（P<0.05）, so as for the apoptosis of the cells（P<0.05）, and gene expression of Bax was significantly decreased（P<0.05）. CONCLUSION Anti-integrin β3 serum can cause the damage and apoptosis of HUVEC through Akt signaling pathway，the apoptotic effects of anti-integrin β3 antibodies to HUVEC was effectively reversed by SC79.
Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Integrin beta3 ; Signal Transduction