Cell Specification
The vascular endothelial cells contribute to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. They synthesize and secrete activators as well as inhibitors of both the coagulation system and the fibrinolysis system in addition to mediators that influence the adhesion and aggregation of blood platelets. Endothelial cells also release molecules that control cell proliferation and modulate vessel wall tone. Many of the endothelial processes can be studied in vitro using cultured cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are the most commonly used cell type for such studies. Except for the common endothelial cell features such as "cobblestone" morphology, positive staining for Factors VIII and the ability to take up acetylated low-density lipoprotein [1], HUVEC stein positively with CD-31 [2]. Cells pretreated with IL-1 or TNF-alpha also selectively express E-selectin [3] and VCAM [4].

HUVEC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human umbilical vein. HUVEC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HUVEC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to vWF/Factor VIII and CD31 (P-CAM) and by uptake of DiI-Ac-LDL. HUVEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HUVEC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 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 HUVEC in vitro.

Product Use
HUVEC 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. Morgan, D. M. L. (1996) Isolation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In "Human Cell Culture Protocols" (Gareth E. Jones, eds.) Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, pp.104-109.
2. Newman, P. J. et al., (1990) PECAM-1 (CD31) cloning and relation to adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. Science 247: 1219-1222.
3. Bevilaqua, M. P. et al., (1989) Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1: an inducible receptor for neutrophils related to complement regulatory proteins and lectins. Science 243:1`160-1165.
4. Osborn, L. et al., (1989) Direct cloning of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, a cytokine induced endothelial protein that binds to lymphocytes. Cell 59:1203-1211.