Abstract
Angiogenesis is involved in numerous pathologies. Studies with in vitro models allow the description and analysis of the different steps involved in this process under defined culture conditions. We describe a controllable and reproducible in vitro model. We assessed the usefulness of this model with two different cell lines: human umbilical vein endothelial cells and bovine retinal endothelial cells. These cells reorganize themselves and change their phenotypes within 24 h after seeding under our culture conditions (low human serum percentage, defined cell density, fibrin matrix) to form ‘capillary-like structures’ (CLS) in vitro. We showed that, depending on the cell line used, the fibrinolytic activity of the cells was a determining factor which could induce or prevent the formation of the CLS. Inhibitors of angiogenesis can be tested using such a model.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- HUVEC:
-
human umbilical vein endothelial cells
- BREC:
-
bovine retinal endothelial cells
- CLS:
-
capillary-like structure
- HS:
-
human serum
References
Engvall E, Ruoslahti E. Binding of soluble form of fibroblast surface protein, fibronectin, to collagen. Int J Cancer. 1977;20:1–5.
Folkman J. Angiogenesis in cancer, vascular, rheumatoid and other disease. Nature Med. 1995;1(1):27–31.
Ingber DE, Folkman J. How does extracellular matrix control capillary morphogenesis? Cell. 1989;58:803–5.
Jaffé EA, Nachman RL, Becker CG, Minick CR. Culture of human endothelial cells derived from umbilical veins: identification by morphologic and immunologic criteria. J Clin Invest. 1973;52:2745–56.
Keckwick RA, McKay ME, Nance MH, Record BR. The purification of human fibrinogen. Biochem J. 1955;60:671–83.
Kishimoto T, Oguri T, Tada M. Methylmercury-injury effect on tube formation by cultured human vascular endothelial cells. Cell Biol Toxicol. 1995;11:29–36.
Lecomte M, Paget C, Ruggiero D, Wiernsperger N, Lagarde M. Docosahexaenoic acid is a major n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in bovine retinal microvessels. J Neurochem. 1996; 66(5):[in press].
Marguerie GA, Plow EF, Edgington TS. Human platelets possess an inducible and saturable receptor specific for fibrinogen. J Biol Chem. 1979;254:5357–63.
Montesano R, Vassali JD, Baird A, Guillemin R, Orci L. Basic fibroblast growth factor induces angiogenesis in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1986;83:7297–301.
Pepper MS, Belin D, Montesano R, Orci L, Vassali JD. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 modulates basic fibroblast growth factor-induced proteolytic and angiogenic properties of endothelial cells in vitro. J Cell Biol. 1990; 111:743–55.
Pepper MS, Vassali JD, Orci L, Montesano R. Angiogenesis in vitro: cytokines interactions and balanced extracellular proteolysis. In: Maragoudakis ME et al., eds. Angiogenesis: molecular biology, clinical aspects. New York: Plenum Press; 1994:149–70.
Vernon RB, Sage EH. Between molecules and morphology. Extracellular matrix and creation of vascular form. Am J Pathol. 1995;147(4):873–83.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vailhé, B., Ronot, X., Lecomte, M. et al. Description of an in vitro angiogenesis model designed to test antiangiogenic molecules. Cell Biol Toxicol 12, 341–344 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00438168
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00438168