[Effect of copper-ion on proliferation and differentiation of vascular endothelial cells]

To evaluate the effect of copper-ion on the proliferation and differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC).

HUVEC were cultured and passaged in vitro. HUVEC were inoculated into 96-well plate with density of 5 x 10(3)/well. All the cells were divided into 3 groups randomly according to different culture mediums: group A (5 micromol/L CuSO4), group B (25 micromol/L CuSO4), group C (control group). Every group had 4 wells, and the basic culture medium was MCDB131. The cell growth curves of 3 groups were drawn by using MTT. HUVEC were inoculated into 6-well plate with density of 2 x 10(5)/well. Grouping of the cells was the same as the above. The gene expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and EGF-like domain 1 (Tie-1) were detected by real-time RT-PCR.

The growth curves revealed that the exponential growth time was the first 3 days, plateau growth time begun on the 4th day. The proliferation of group A was stronger than that of groups B and C from the 3rd day, within 2 days, the proliferation of group B was stronger than that of group C; however, it decreased and was weaker than group C from the 4th day, all showing statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The results of real-time RT-PCR revealed that the expressions of eNOS in groups A, B and C were 7.294 +/- 1.488, 0.149 +/- 0.044 and 1.000 +/- 0.253; and the expressions of Tie-1 in groups A, B and C were 1.481 +/- 0.137, 1.131 +/- 0.191 and 1.000 +/- 0.177. Group A compared with groups B and C, both of 2 genes were up-regulated (P < 0.05). Group B compared with group C, eNOS was down-regulated (P < 0.05) and the difference of Tie-1 expression was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

5 micromol/L copper-ion can promote the proliferation and differentiation of HUVEC effectively.