Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Published on: March 15, 2016
Heparin-independent mitogenicity in an endothelial and smooth muscle cell chimeric growth factor (S130K-HBGAM)
Luke P Brewster1, Eric M Brey, Apostolos K Tassiopoulos
1Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Background:
Through site-directed mutagenesis we have created a favorable fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) mutant (S130K) and linked it to a heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HBGAM) to form the chimera S130K-HBGAM creating a heparin-independent, endothelial cell (EC)-specific mitogen.
Methods:
The proliferative responses of primary canine carotid artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) and jugular vein EC to FGF-1, S130K, or S130K-HBGAM, with and without heparin (5 U/mL), was quantitated by measuring tritiated thymidine uptake over 24 hours and expressing the results as percent of positive control (20% fetal bovine serum [FBS]) for group comparison.
Results:
Unlike FGF-1, both S130K and S130K-HBGAM are heparin-independent mitogens for EC and SMC. S130K-HBGAM was equivalent to FGF-1 with heparin at 6 nmol/L. S130K-HBGAM did not demonstrate relative EC specificity in this assay.
Conclusions:
At higher concentrations, S130K-HBGAM is a potent, heparin-independent EC and SMC mitogen. Co-culture assays and in vivo delivery models may demonstrate EC specificity not identified in this single cell type proliferation assay.
More Related Videos
12:30Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing for the Quantification of Endothelial Proliferation, Barrier Function, and Motility
Published on: March 28, 2014
08:46Strategic Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay: Comparing Extracellular Matrix and Growth Factor Reduced Extracellular Matrix
Published on: August 14, 2016