INHIBITORY EFFECT OF METHYLMERCURY ON MIGRATION AND TUBE FORMATION BYCULTURED HUMAN VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

The effect of methylmercury chloride (MeHg) on mi,oration and tube for mation by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was quantitatively analyzed. The distance of endothelial cell outgrowth f rom the scraped edge of a monolayer was measured. HUVEC outgrowth was inhibited by MeHg (1.0 - 5.0 mu M) treatment in a dose-dependent manne r. Tube formation was studied by culturing the cells on gelled basemen t membrane matrix (Matrigel). Treatment of HUVECs with 0.1-5.0 mu M Me Hg for 24 h inhibited tube formation dose-dependently. These results s uggest that migration and tube formation by HUVECs are susceptible to MeHg cytotoxicity, and that MeHg could be injurious to endothelial cel l function, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of arteriosclero sis.