In vitro angiogenic potency in human microvascular endothelial cells derived from myocardium, lung and skin

Human microvascular endothelial cells derived from myocardium (HCMEC), lung (HPMEC) and foreskin (HDMEC) showed different angiogenic potency when cultivated in their original growth media provided by the distributors. In order to standardize microenvironmental conditions in an all-in-one assay of angiogenesis the aim of this study was to find one optimal growth medium for the endothelial cells derived from the different organs. Therefore each endothelial cell type was cultivated under identical conditions in the different original growth media as well as in several media formulations of the original growth media. Results reveal that even if cultivated in the same growth medium under exactly the same cultivation conditions--over a prolonged time period of 60 days--the endothelial cells still showed different angiogenic potency. This is due to a combination of extrinsic factors, i.e. the isolation procedure and in particular the growth medium, as well as to intrinsic differences between cells of diverse origin.