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Human Vascular Endothelial Cells: A Model System for Studying Vascular Inflammation in Diabetes and Atherosclerosis

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Abstract

The vascular endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels serving as autocrine and paracrine organ that regulates vascular wall function. Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as initial step in the atherosclerotic process and is well advanced in diabetes, even before the manifestation of end-organ damage. Strategies capable of assessing changes in vascular endothelium at the preclinical stage hold potential to refine cardiovascular risk. In vitro cell culture is useful in understanding the interaction of endothelial cells with various mediators; however, it is often criticized due to the uncertain relevance of results to humans. Although circulating endothelial cells, endothelial microparticles, and progenitor cells opened the way for ex vivo studies, a recently described method for obtaining primary endothelial cells through endovascular biopsy allows direct characterization of endothelial phenotype in humans. In this article, we appraise the use of endothelial cell-based methodologies to study vascular inflammation in diabetes and atherosclerosis.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: D. Onat: received a grant from the American Heart Association (Postdoctoral Fellowship Award #0425894T); D. Brillon: none; P.C. Colombo: received a grant (NIH-K23 Award # HL-72758); A.M. Schmidt: none.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West, 168th Street, PS-17-401, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Duygu Onat

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, 525 East, 68th Street, F-2008, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    David Brillon

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 West, 168th Street, PH12-134, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Paolo C. Colombo

  4. Diabetes Research Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, Smilow 9, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Ann Marie Schmidt

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  1. Duygu Onat
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  4. Ann Marie Schmidt
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Correspondence to Duygu Onat.

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Onat, D., Brillon, D., Colombo, P.C. et al. Human Vascular Endothelial Cells: A Model System for Studying Vascular Inflammation in Diabetes and Atherosclerosis. Curr Diab Rep 11, 193–202 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-011-0182-2

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