Neovascular responses induced by cultured aortic endothelial cells

Neovascularization was studied in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo after implantation of bovine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells, Swiss and BALB/c 3T3 cells and human diploid fibroblasts cultured separately on microcarrier beads. Quantitative analysis of neovascularization indicated a 3 1/2-fold increase in the number of blood vessels responding to endothelial cells while smooth muscle cells induced a twofold increase when compared to the response of beads without cells. Skin fibroblasts and Swiss 3T3 cells did not elicit a comparable response. The marked angiogenic response induced by endothelial cells was characterized by a 137% increase in total vessel length and a 35% increase in average vessel area when compared to controls. Two of the properties required for an angiogenesis factor--stimulation of cellular migration and proliferation--can also be demonstrated using endothelial cell-conditioned medium in cell culture systems. Medium from cultured bovine aortic endothelium stimulates DNA synthesis, proliferation, and migration of smooth muscle cells. In addition, conditioned media from both endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells produced an angiogenic response in the chorioallantoic membrane assay, which was comparable to that produced by intact cells growing on microcarrier beads. Similar responses were not evident with medium conditioned by other cell types. These results indicate the potential importance of endothelial cells and endothelial cell products in regulating blood vessel growth.