One of the cardinal processes of inflammation is the infiltration of immune cells from the lumen of the blood vessel to the surrounding tissue. This occurs when endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, become adhesive to circulating immune cells such as monocytes. In vitro measurement of this adhesiveness has until now been done by quantifying the total number of monocytes that adhere to an endothelial layer either as a direct count or by indirect measurement of the fluorescence of adherent monocytes. While such measurements do indicate the average adhesiveness of the endothelial cell population, they are confounded by a number of factors, such as cell number, and do not reveal the proportion of endothelial cells that are actually adhesive. Here we describe and demonstrate a method which allows the enumeration of adhesive cells within a tested population of endothelial monolayer. Endothelial cells are grown on glass coverslips and following desired treatment are challenged with monocytes (that may be fluorescently labeled). After incubation, a rinsing procedure, involving multiple rounds of immersion and draining, the cells are fixed. Adhesive endothelial cells, which are surrounded by monocytes are readily identified and enumerated, giving an adhesion index that reveals the actual proportion of endothelial cells within the population that are adhesive.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/52924 | DOI Listing |
STAR Protoc
January 2025
Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Atherosclerosis & Ischemic Syndromes, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address:
The endothelium is the gatekeeper of vessel health, and its dysfunction is pivotal in driving atherogenesis. Here, we present a protocol to replicate endothelial-macrophage crosstalk during atherogenesis, called the "atherogenesis-on-chip" model, based on the Emulate dual-channel perfusion system. We describe a model for studying endothelial-macrophage interactions during atherogenesis in human aortic endothelial cells and human macrophages using qPCR and secretome analysis, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry.
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January 2025
Divison of Molecular and Vascular Biology, IRDA, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. Electronic address:
Angiogenesis begins as endothelial cells migrate, forming a sprouting tip and subsequent growth-rich stalk cells. Here, we present a protocol for transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses of tip-like cells in cultured endothelial cells. We describe steps for stimulating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) to generate tip-like cells.
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January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China. Electronic address:
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a powerful platform for generating hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and investigating hematopoietic development. Here, we present a protocol for maintaining hPSCs and inducing their differentiation into HPCs through the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT) on vitronectin-coated plates. We outline steps for evaluating the efficiency of HPC generation and assessing their potential to differentiate into various hematopoietic lineages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biochem Mol Toxicol
January 2025
Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Microvascular Regulation, Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medicine in Microvascular Ageing; Laboratory of Future Industry of Gene Editing in Vascular Endothelial Cells of Universities in Shandong Province, Jinan, China.
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal which induces vascular disorders. Previous studies suggest that Cd in the bloodstream affects vascular endothelial cells (ECs), potentially contributing to vascular-related diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of effects of Cd on ECs remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biochem Mol Toxicol
January 2025
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, China.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a severe cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is partly attributable to endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory response, and angiogenesis. G protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4), a proton-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor that is abundantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells, has been associated with numerous physiological functions. Nevertheless, its potential involvement in the development of AAA remains unexplored.
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