Introduction to Vascular Biology
The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries). This complex system is involved in a diverse number of functions, including:
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The Vascular Network
| The vascular network consists of both small and large vessels specifically designed to accommodate varying levels of blood flow and pressure, depending upon the location within the body (e.g. large conduit vessels versus small microvessels within the capillary beds in tissues). In addition, layered within the vascular tissue is a diverse population of cell types, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and other connective tissue cell types (Figure 1). The combination of these cell types make up the vascular tissue and form tight junctions or connections, which allow for permeability for both passive and active transport across the vessel wall. |
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The endothelial cells found within the vascular tissue are also involved in other activities critical to maintaining normal growth and function, including:
In addition, endothelial cells play a critical role in normal tissue maintenance and growth. However, aberrant or uncontrolled vascular cell growth can also be associated with diseases and processes such as angiogenesis, diabetic retinopathy, and other developmental conditions that are currently the focus of many research efforts today. |
Applications for Vascular Cell Systems
Invitrogen offers a choice of the most relevant vascular cell types for use in a diverse number of research projects, including large vessel and microvascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Biological research integrating normal primary vascular cell types has been used effectively in numerous applications, including:
Vascular cell types are shown below in Figure 2
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Vascular cell types are shown below in Figure 2
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Figure 2. Types of vascular cells. (A) Phase-contrast image of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. (B) Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, anti-vWF immunofluorescence. (C) Microvascular endothelial cells were stained using an anti-CD31 primary antibody in conjunction with a fluorescein-labeled secondary antibody. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. |
Key Cardiovascular Primary Cell Culture Products
Invitrogen primary cells and media have been developed to work together for optimal performance (Table 1).
Table 1: Key cardiovascular primary cell culture products
| Primary human cells (cryopreserved) | Basal media | Growth supplements | |
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| Large Vessel Endothelial Cell Systems Click here to learn more | Aortic endothelial cells Pulmonary artery endothelial cells Umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) | Medium 200 (500 ml) | Low-serum growth supplement |
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Systems Click here to learn more | Aortic smooth muscle cells Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells Coronary smooth muscle cells | Medium 231 (500 ml) | Smooth muscle growth supplement (SMGS) Smooth muscle differentiation supplement (SMDS) |
Microvascular Endothelial Cell Systems Click here to learn more | Dermal microvascular endothelial cells | Medium 131 with attachment factor (500 ml) | Microvascular growth supplement (MVGS) Attachment factor (100 ml) |
Key Research Applications
| Large Vessel Endothelial Primary Cells
| Microvascular Endothelial Primary Cells
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