Effect of defibrotide and endothelial cell growth supplement on human endothelial cells in culture

Abstract

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), obtained by collagenase treatment, were cultured using medium 199 supplemented with 20% human serum. Cells in primary and subcultures were identified as endothelial by the presence of von Willebrand factor (factor VIII related antigen). The effect of endothelial growth supplement (ECGS) and defibrotide (D) on cell proliferation of HUVEC was determined by cell counting. In addition, the protein content and the prostacyclin (PGI2) production of cells were determined. Our results indicate that both ECGS and D enhance the proliferation of cells but ECGS more profoundly. On the contrary, D increased the protein content of individual cells remarkably more than ECGS did. There was no significant difference of PGI2 production between cells incubated with D or ECGS.