Effects of D-valine on pulmonary artery endothelial cell morphology and function in cell culture

The effects of D-valine on the cell culture of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were studied using D-valine-modified Minimal Essential Medium (MEM). D-Valine-treated cultures (46-920 mg/l) were compared with replicate cells grown in L-valine (46 mg/l)-MEM. All media were supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Endothelial cells were grown for 14 passages with split ratios varying from 1:3 to 1:6. Unlike cells grown in L-valine MEM, cells grown in D-valine MEM did not become contaminated by the growth fibroblasts in primary cultures. D-Valine-treated cells were found to grow in cobblestone array, exhibit contact inhibition and strongly express factor-VIII antigen (F-VIII). D-Valine-grown cells produced PGI2 in greater proportion to PGE2, both constitutively and when stimulated by bradykinin, on comparison with cells grown in L-valine. In addition, cells grown in L-valine, although able to express factor VIII, were not comparable to D-valine cells with respect to other parameters assayed (morphology and growth as a monolayer).