Vascular endothelium: target or victim of cytostatic therapy?

Chemotherapy continues to be the main therapeutic approach in the treatment of hematological malignancies including acute leukemia. Generally, chemotherapy is used to eliminate cancer cells and to restore normal bone marrow function. Simultaneous action of cytostatic drugs on bone marrow angiogenesis decreases the formation of new capillaries and improves therapeutic effect.

Herpes simplex type I virus infected human vascular endothelial cells induce the production of anti-viral and proinflammatory factors by peripheral blood leukocytes in vitro.

Viral infection of the vascular wall cellular elements is involved in development of several pathophysiological events, including vasculitis, transplant rejection, and atherosclerosis. Previously, we have shown that cultured human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) may be effectively infected with herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-1), and this cultural model could be a useful tool for the explanation of many aspects of viral disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of conditioned media (CM) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on HSV-1 reproduction and cell adhesion molecule expression in cultured ECs.

Herpes Simplex Type I Virus Infection of Cultured Human Vascular Endothelial Cells: Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules and Induction of Interferon and Cytokine Production by Blood Mononuclear Cells.

The expression of cell adhesion molecules, P- and E-selectins, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, was studied in cultured human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) infected by herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-1). It was shown that ECs without any signs of the cytopathogenic effect (CPE) expressed on their surface P- and E-selectins as soon as 24 h after infection. No appearance of VCAM-1 or increase in ICAM-1 expression was detected.

The Effect of Smooth Muscle Cells and Leukocytes on HSV-1 Reproduction in Cultured Human Endothelial Cells.

The ability of intima smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and blood leukocytes to control the development of Herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) infection in human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) was studied under a co-culture conditions. It was shown that cultured ECs supported HSV-1 reproduction followed by cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and accumulation of infectious virus in the cell culture medium. At the multiplicity of infection (MOI) ranging from 1 to 0.

Searching for alternative sources of postnatal human mesenchymal stem cells: candidate MSC-like cells from umbilical cord.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capability for renewal and differentiation into various lineages of mesenchymal tissues. These features of MSCs attract a lot of attention from investigators in the context of cell-based therapies of several human diseases. Despite the fact that bone marrow represents the main available source of MSCs, the use of bone marrow-derived cells is not always acceptable due to the high degree of viral infection and the significant drop in cell number and proliferative/differentiation capacity with age.