Cultivation of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells on Topographical Substrates to Mimic the Human Corneal Endothelium

Abstract

Human corneal endothelial cells have a limited ability to replicate in vivo and in vitro. Allograft transplantation becomes necessary when an accident or trauma results in excessive cell loss. The reconstruction of the cornea endothelium using autologous cell sources is a promising alternative option for therapeutic or in vitro drug testing applications. The native corneal endothelium rests on the Descemet’s membrane, which has nanotopographies of fibers and pores. The use of synthetic topographies mimics the native environment, and it is hypothesized that this can direct the behavior and growth of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) to resemble the corneal endothelium. In this study, HMVECs are cultivated on substrates with micron and nano-scaled pillar and well topographies. Closely packed HMVEC monolayers with polygonal cells and well-developed tight junctions were formed on the topographical substrates. Sodium/potassium (Na+/K+) adenine triphosphatase (ATPase) expression was enhanced on the microwells substrate, which also promotes microvilli formation, while more hexagonal-like cells are found on the micropillars samples. The data obtained suggests that the use of optimized surface patterning, in particular, the microtopographies, can induce HMVECs to adopt a more corneal endothelium-like morphology with similar barrier and pump functions. The mechanism involved in cell contact guidance by the specific topographical features will be of interest for future studies.

Purpuric drug eruptions induced by EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are associated with IQGAP1‐mediated increase in vascular permeability

“…In this study we investigated, for the first time, the effects of EGFR‐TKIs on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. As HMEC‐1s represent a unique immortalized human microvascular endothelial cell line that is useful in dissecting the role of the microvascular endothelium in pathophysiologic processes, HMEC‐1s are considered as an alternative cell source to overcome the limited lifespan of HMVECs . Our results demonstrated that endothelial cell proliferation was inhibited by the EGFR‐TKIs in a time‐dependent manner.…”

“…Since the pathologic events of purpuric drug eruptions take place at the level of the microvasculature, HMVECs (human dermal microvascular endothelial cells) would be useful in the dissection of the role of the microvascular endothelium in these pathologic processes . However, HMVECs have a low proliferative capacity and limited lifespan .…”

“…Since the pathologic events of purpuric drug eruptions take place at the level of the microvasculature, HMVECs (human dermal microvascular endothelial cells) would be useful in the dissection of the role of the microvascular endothelium in these pathologic processes . However, HMVECs have a low proliferative capacity and limited lifespan . In order to overcome these difficulties, HMEC‐1s (immortalized human dermal microvascular endothelial cells), an immortalized endothelial cell line that retains the functional characteristics of normal human microvascular endothelial cells, were used as an alternative cell source .…”

Deletion of Socs3 in LysM+ cells and Cx3cr1 resulted in age-dependent development of retinal microgliopathy

“…The shape factor of a perfect hexagonal cell (eg. a RPE cell) is around 0.9 [ 42 ]. The relationship between microglial cell number and the shape factor of the RPE was analyzed by linear regression using SPSS statistics software (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA).…”

Deletion of Socs3 in LysM+ Cells and Cx3cr1 Resulted in Age-dependent Development of Retinal Microgliopathy

“…The shape factor of a perfect hexagonal cell (eg. an RPE cell) is around 0.9 (43).The relationship between microglial cell number and the shape factor of the RPE was analyzed by linear regression using SPSS statistics software (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA).The quanti cation was con rmed by two independentresearchers.…”