Cadmium injury of cultured human vascular endothelial cells

The effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on cultured human vascular endothelial (HVE) cells and cultured human fibroblasts (HAIN-55 cells) was investigated. Umbilical vein-derived HVE cells were collected by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. At the concentration of 0-10 microM, Cd had hardly any effect on the cell viability of either cells. The viability of HVE cells decreased markedly at 100 microM, but not that of HAIN-55 cells. Morphologic examination by phase contrast microscopy revealed a more damaging effect of Cd on HVE cells than on HAIN-55 cells. These results suggest that Cd is more cytotoxic to HVE cells than HAIN-55 cells.