Morphological alterations and apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by thalassemic serum in vitro

Vascular complications such as lung thromboembolism and leg ulcer have been observed in thalassemic patients. Recently, our group has reported impaired proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) after exposure to alpha- and beta-thalassemic sera in a culture system. This study was undertaken to detect apoptotic phenomena of ECs in the presence of alpha- and beta-thalassemic serum. ECs from normal human umbilical cord vein were exposed to 30% thalassemic serum in vitro and morphological changes were observed by using phase contrast, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Such treated ECs presented morphological characteristics of apoptosis as shown by the appearance of compact cytosol, membrane blebbing, margination of nuclear matrix, condensed nuclei, and fragmented bodies. The majority of apoptotic cells was in the floating population. Similar morphological changes were also observed by treating ECs with hydrogen peroxide in the concentration range of 0.1-10 mM.