Influence of VEGF stimulated human macrophages on the proliferation of dermal microvascular endothelial cells: Coculture experiments
Issue title: Selected Papers from the 28th Congress on Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation of the German Society, Munich, Germany, 20–21 November 2009
Affiliations: Center for Biomaterial Development and Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Institute for Polymer Research, GKSS Research Center Geesthacht GmbH, Teltow, Germany | University of Heidelberg, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Facility, Heidelberg, Germany | Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Medical Faculty, Greifswald, Germany | Central Institute for Biomedical Technology, Biomaterials Division, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: B. Hiebl, Center for Biomaterial Development and Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Institute for Polymer Research, GKSS Research Center Geesthacht GmbH, Kantstrasse 55, 14513 Teltow, Germany. Tel.: +49 3328 352 467; Fax: +49 3328 352 452; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Monocytes/macrophages are known to exhibit pro-angiogenic activities after VEGF stimulation. Recently, it was shown that VEGF stimulated macrophages can support growth of microvascular endothelial cells from the lung when both cell types were cocultured using a cell ratio of 1:1. However, endothelial cells can have different phenotypic characteristics and metabolism depending on the originating vascular bed and tissues, and only few data have been published regarding the regiospecific sensitivity of microvascular endothelial cells for angiogenic stimuli. Reports about differences in the microvascular bed of the lung and the skin motivated to investigate angiogenic effects of VEGF stimulated macrophages (mΦa) on the doubling time and the cell growth behaviour of skin derived microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC/S). During the study period of 60 days, mΦa supported growth and proliferation of the HMVEC/S, when mΦa and HMVEC/S were cocultured at a ratio of 0.5:1. However, these effects were not seen in a 1:1 coculture. This result indicates that there is a positive correlation between the pro-angiogenic effects of mΦa and the number of endothelial cells in the direct neighbourhood of the mΦa and also suggests a different sensitivity of microvascular endothelial cells to angiogenic stimuli depending on the tissue from which they were isolated.
