Cell Specification
The pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEC) form a semiselective barrier that is critical for lung gas exchange and regulation of fluid and solute passage between the blood and interstitial compartments in the lung. They also have metabolic properties that enable it to carry out certain important nonrespiratory function. The PMECs are among the most important targets of reactive oxygen species elaborated in lung injury [1]. During the course of lung inflammation, neurohumoral mediators and oxidants act on endothelial cells to induce intercellular gaps permissive for transudation of proteinaceous fluid from blood into the interstitium [2]. The increased permeability leads to the hypoxemia associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema [3].

HPMEC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human lung tissue. HPMEC are cryopreserved immediately after purification and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HPMEC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to vWF/Factor VIII and CD31 (P-CAM) and by uptake of DiI-Ac-LDL. HPMEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HPMEC are guaranteed to further expand for 10 population doublings at the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Endothelial Cell Medium (ECM, Cat. No. 1001) for the culturing of HPMEC in vitro.

Product Use
HPMEC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1] Brigham, K. L. (1990) Oxidant stress and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Eur Respir J Suppl 11: 482s-484s.
[2] Moore T. M., Chetham P. M., Kelly J. J., Stevens T. (1998) Signal transduction and regulation of lung endothelial cell permeability. Interaction between calcium and cAMP. Am J Physiol. 275(2 Pt 1):L203-22.
[3] Kelly JJ, Moore TM, Babal P, Diwan AH, Stevens T, Thompson WJ. (1998) Pulmonary microvascular and macrovascular endothelial cells: differential regulation of Ca2+ and permeability. Am J Physiol. 274(5 Pt 1):L810-9.