EFFECTS OF SERA, BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR, HEPARIN AND CYCLIC AMP-STIMULATION ON PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

The aim of this study was to find culture conditions that optimize the proliferation of human endothelial cells (ECs). The effects of differ ent sera, growth factors and other additives on ECs derived from the a dult human great saphenous or the umbilical vein were studied. Human s erum (HS) at 10 and 40% was significantly more effective than fetal ca lf serum at 10 and 30%, respectively. The addition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increased proliferation alone and in combination with heparin. Heparin alone increased EC growth only in medium contai ning 40% HS. The addition of cholera toxin (CT) and a phosphodiesteras e inhibitor (IBMX) to raise cAMP-levels, stimulated proliferation of b oth cell types but was more pronounced on the ECs from the saphenous v ein. The cAMP-levels were elevated equally in both cell types. However , db-cAMP stimulated proliferation only of the ECs from the saphenous vein. An additive stimulatory effect was observed when bFGF and CT/IBM X were combined. For saphenous vein ECs, a medium containing HS (40%), bFGF, heparin, CT and IBMX was found optimal for proliferation. We co nclude that these compounds may be used to increase EC growth and that , even a limited number of donor ECs may be sufficient starting materi al for in vitro studies on the human endothelium.