Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2026
Isolation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC)
Published on: April 28, 2007
Endothelial cell culture: protocol to obtain and cultivate human umbilical endothelial cells
1INSERM U387, Laboratoire d'immunologie, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, 270 Bd Sainte Marguerite, 13009 Marseilles, France. marin@marseille.inserm.fr
Endothelial cells play a key role in prominent immunological and pathological processes such as leukocyte trafficking, inflammation, atheroma or cancer cell metastasis. Umbilical veins are probably the most widely used source for human endothelial cells, since they are more easily available than many other vessels, they are free from any pathological process and they are physiologically more relevant than many established cell lines. Here, we describe a standard protocol for preparation, maintenance and quality control of these cells.
Endothelial cells play a key role in prominent immunological and pathological processes such as leukocyte trafficking, inflammation, atheroma or cancer cell metastasis. Umbilical veins are probably the most widely used source for human endothelial cells, since they are more easily available than many other vessels, they are free from any pathological process and they are physiologically more relevant than many established cell lines. Here, we describe a standard protocol for preparation, maintenance and quality control of these cells.
