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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Human Saphenous Vein Endothelial Cell Isolation and Exposure to Controlled Levels of Shear Stress and Stretch
Published on: April 21, 2023
Phenotype and function of smooth muscle cells derived from the human normal great saphenous vein in response to
Haibo Chu1, Yanyan Qin1,2, Tianzhen Qiu1
1Department of General Surgery, Jiaozhou Branch of Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Qingdao, China.
Objective:
The contribution of hypoxia to the pathophysiology of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has not yet been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the effect of hypoxia on the phenotype and function of SMCs derived from the human normal great saphenous veins (NGSVs).
Methods:
Fifteen NGSV tissue samples were collected. SMCs were isolated and cultured. Proliferation, migration, adhesion, senescence, and the structure of cytoskeletal filaments in SMCs were observed. mRNA and protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, and TIMP-2 was detected by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting in the cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and the control groups.
Results:
A decrease in the number of cytoskeletal filaments was observed. mRNA and protein expression of Bas and caspase-3 was significantly decreased, while the quantity of proliferation, migration, adhesion, senescence, and mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in SMCs in the CoCl2 group were significantly increased compared with the control group.
Conclusion:
Under hypoxic conditions, the phenotype and function of SMCs derived from the human NGSVs were dysregulated, suggesting that VSMCs switch from the contractile phenotype to the secretory or synthetic phenotype, and more dedifferentiate, resulting in extracellular matrix deposition and apoptotic decrease through the intrinsic pathway.
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