Effect of lead on tube formation by cultured human vascular endothelial cells

The effect of lead acetate (Pb) on the growth of and tube formation by cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was examined. HUVEC were collected by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. The number of viable cells of HUVEC was negligibly affected by cultivation with Pb at concentrations of 1-100 microM, but was slightly reduced by cultivation at 500 microM. Tube formation was studied by culturing the cells on a gelled basement membrane matrix (Matrigel). Treatment of HUVEC with 0.1-50.0 microM Pb for 24 h inhibited tube formation dose-dependently. The length of tube formation decreased time-dependently with 1.0 microM Pb. These findings suggest that Pb inhibits the formation of a capillary network by HUVEC, and that Pb could be injurious to endothelial cell function.