Phorbol esters induce angiogenesis in vitro from large-vessel endothelial cells

✍ Scribed by R. Montesano; L. Orci

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 984 KB
• Volume: 130
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9541
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1041300215

✦ Synopsis

We have shown previously that the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induces capillary endothelial cells grown on t h e surface of threedimensional collagen gels to invade the underlying matrix as capillary-like tubular structures, a phenomenon mimicking angiogenic processes that oc- cur in vivo (Montesano and Orci: Cell 42:469, 1985). To establish whether the potential to invade the extracellular matrix as capillary-like sprouts is re- stricted to microvascular endothelial cells or is also shared by large vessel endothelium, we have examined the response to PMA of endothelial cells isolated from the human umbilical vein and t h e calf pulmonary artery. The results of these experiments show that both types of macrovascular endothelial cells are able to penetrate into collagen gels as vessel-like tubes following treatment with PMA. This demonstrates that endothelial cells derived from large vessels can, in response to appropriate signals, express invasive properties thought to be associated specifically with capillary endothelial cells in vivo.