Isolation, characterization and long-term culture of human myometrial microvascular endothelial cells

Abstract

Angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels, involves microvascular rather than large vessel endothelial cells. Accordingly, microvascular endothelial cell (MEC) proliferation assays are an appropriate in-vitro model of angiogenesis. We have developed a method for the isolation and long-term culture of large numbers of MEC from the human myometrium, tissue readily available from hysterectomy specimens. Human myometrial MEC were positively selected from tissue dissociated sequentially with collagenase and trypsin using Ulex europeaus antigen-1 (UEA)-coated dynabeads. Cultured myometrial MEC displayed characteristic endothelial phenotype and function for up to ..