This research is supported by the NSF CAREER award, the Hartwell Foundation, and the American Heart Association (#0830384N).

1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Autoclave in a covered instrument tray the following items: 
	<ol>
		<li>Serrated tissue forceps - For handling the leaflet tissue</li>
		<li>Tissue scissors (8 cm) - For trimming leaflet tissue and cusps</li>
		<li>Cotton Swabs - For isolating the endothelial layer from the leaflet or cusp</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Make sterile collagenase solution 
	<ol>
		<li>Add 4.0 grams of powdered DMEM to 250 mL of 18 M&Omega; water.</li>
		<li>Add 1.11 grams of sodium bicarbonate.</li>
		<li>...

<ol>
	<li>Thompson, R. P., Fitzharris, T. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphogenesis+of+the+truncus+arteriosus+of+the+chick+embryo+heart:+the+formation+and+migration+of+mesenchymal+tissue.">Morphogenesis of the truncus arteriosus of the chick embryo heart: the formation and migration of mesenchymal tissue.</a> Am J Anat. 154, 545-556 (1979).</li><li>Johnson, C. M., Fass, D. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Porcine+cardiac+valvular+endothelial+cells+in+culture:+A+relative+deficiency+of+fibronectin+synthesis+in+vitro.">Porcine cardiac valvular endothelial cells in culture: A relative deficiency of fibronectin synthesis in vitro.</a> Lab Invest. 49 (5), 589-598 (1983).</li><li>Manduteanu, I., Popov, D., Radu, A., Simionescu, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calf+cardiac+valvular+endothelial+cells+in+culture:+production+of+glycosaminoglycans,+prostacyclin+and+fibronectin.">Calf cardiac valvular endothelial cells in culture: production of glycosaminoglycans, prostacyclin and fibronectin.</a> J Mol Cell Cardiol. 20 (2), 103-118 (1988).</li><li>Cheunyg, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Techniques+for+isolating+and+purifying+porcine+aortic+valve+endothelial+cells.">Techniques for isolating and purifying porcine aortic valve endothelial cells.</a> JHVD. 17 (6), 674-681 (2008).</li><li>Paranya, G., Vineberg, S., Dvorin, E., Kaushal, S., Roth, S. J., Rabkin, E., Schoen, F. J., Bischoff, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aortic+valve+endothelial+cells+undergo+transforming+growth+factor-beta-mediated+and+non-transforming+growth+factor-beta-mediated+transdifferentiation+in+vitro.">Aortic valve endothelial cells undergo transforming growth factor-beta-mediated and non-transforming growth factor-beta-mediated transdifferentiation in vitro.</a> Am J Pathol. 159 (4), 1335-1343 (2001).</li><li>Butcher, J. T., Penrod, A., Garcia, A. J. M., Nerem, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unique+morphology+and+focal+adhesion+development+of+valvular+endothelial+cells+in+static+and+fluid+flow+environments.">Unique morphology and focal adhesion development of valvular endothelial cells in static and fluid flow environments.</a> Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Bio. 24 (1), 1429-1434 (2004).</li><li>Simmons, C. A., Grant, G. R., Manduchi, E., Davies, P. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatial+heterogeneity+of+endothelial+phenotypes+correlates+with+side-specific+vulnerability+to+calcification+in+normal+porcine+aortic+valves.">Spatial heterogeneity of endothelial phenotypes correlates with side-specific vulnerability to calcification in normal porcine aortic valves.</a> Circ Res. 96, 792-799 (2005).</li><li>Butcher, J. T., Tressel, S., Johnson, T., Turner, D., Sorescu, G., Jo, H., Nerem, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcriptional+Profiles+of+Valvular+and+Vascular+Endothelial+Cells+Reveal+Phenotypic+Differences:+Influence+of+Shear+Stress.">Transcriptional Profiles of Valvular and Vascular Endothelial Cells Reveal Phenotypic Differences: Influence of Shear Stress.</a> Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 26, 69-69 (2006).</li><li>Parachuri, S., Yang, J. H., Aikawa, E., Melero-Martin, J. M., Khan, Z. A., Loukogeorgakis, S., Schoen, F. J., Bischoff, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+Pulmonary+Valve+Progenitor+Cells+Exhibit+Endothelial/Mesenchymal+Plasticity+in+Response+to+Vascular+Endothelial+Growth+Factor-A+and+Transforming+Growth+Factor-&#946;2.">Human Pulmonary Valve Progenitor Cells Exhibit Endothelial/Mesenchymal Plasticity in Response to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Transforming Growth Factor-&#946;2.</a> Circ Res. 99 (8), 861-869 (2006).</li><li>Shi, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+for+circulating+bone+marrow-derived+endothelial+cells.">Evidence for circulating bone marrow-derived endothelial cells.</a> Blood. 92, 362-367 (1998).</li><li>Rehman, J., Li, J., Orschell, C. M., March, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peripheral+blood+endothelial+progenitor+cells+are+derived+from+monocyte/macrophages+and+secrete+angiogenic+growth+factors.">Peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells are derived from monocyte/macrophages and secrete angiogenic growth factors.</a> Circulation. 107, 1164-1169 (2003).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

An understanding of valvular biology has been impaired by technical difficulties isolating and culturing pure populations of valvular endothelial cells. Typical isolation techniques involve enzymatic digestion of the underlying basal matrix or chemical dissociation of endothelial adhesive bonds2,3. Preliminary isolation experiments were qualitatively assessed by varying dissociation agents and incubation periods. The results of these experiments showed that EDTA (or Trypsin-EDTA) incubation for up to 60 min...

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Dulbecco&#x2019;s Modified Eagle Medium</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mediatech</td>
<td>50-103-PB</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gibco</td>
<td>26140</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Penicillin Streptomycin</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gibco</td>
<td>15140-122</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>0.25% Trypsin-EDTA</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gibco</td>
<td>25200</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Heparin Sodium Salt</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>H4784-1G</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Collagenase Type 2</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Worthington Biochemical</td>
<td>LS004176</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>DPBS</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gibco</td>
<td>21300-058</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Rat Tail Collagen</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD Biosciences</td>
<td>354236</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Critical Swabs</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>89031-270</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>55761</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>T25 Flasks</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD Biosciences</td>
<td>353018</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>T75 Flasks</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD Biosciences</td>
<td>353136</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>24 Well Plate</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Falcon</td>
<td>353047</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>60x15 mm Dishes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>25384-092</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>60x15 Glass Dishes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>89000-310</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Paraffin Embedding Wax</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>19304-01</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Precision Glide Needles</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>BD Biosciences </td>
<td>305165</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>500 mL Nalgene Filters</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>73520-985</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>1L Nalgene Filters</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>73520-986</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Tissue Forceps</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11023-15</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>FSC Tweezers #5</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>11295-00</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

isolation of valvular endothelial cells

Heart valves are solely responsible for maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the cardiovascular system. These thin, fibrous tissues are subjected to significant mechanical stresses as they open and close several billion times over a lifespan. The incredible endurance of these tissues is due to the resident valvular endothelial (VEC) and interstitial cells (VIC) that constantly repair and remodel in response to local mechanical and biological signals. Only recently have we begun to understand the unique behaviors of these cells, for which in vitro experimentation has played a key role. Particularly challenging is the isolation and culture of VEC. Special care must be used from the moment the tissue is removed from the host through final plating. Here we present protocols for direct isolation, side specific isolation, culture, and verification of pure populations of VEC. We use enzymatic digestion followed by a gentle swab scraping technique to dislodge only surface cells. These cells are then collected into a tube and centrifuged into a pellet. The pellet is then resuspended and plated into culture flasks pre-coated with collagen I matrix. VEC phenotype is confirmed by contact inhibited growth and the expression of endothelial specific markers such as PECAM1 (CD31), Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and negative expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (&alpha;-SMA). The functional characteristics of VEC are associated with high levels of acetylated LDL. Unlike vascular endothelial cells, VEC have the unique capacity to transform into mesenchyme, which normally occurs during embryonic valve formation1. This can also occur during significantly prolonged post confluent in vitro culture, so care should be made to passage at or near confluence. After VEC isolation, pure populations of VIC can then be easily acquired.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Valvular Endothelial Cells at JoVE.com

Isolation of Valvular Endothelial Cells

We provide a method for isolating and culturing pure populations of heart valve endothelial cells (VEC). VEC can be isolated from either side of the cusp or leaflet and immediately following, underlying interstitial cell (VIC) isolation is straightforward.

Heart valves are solely responsible for maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the cardiovascular system.  These thin, fibrous tissues are ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

20.2K Görüntüleme.  Cornell University. Yalıtma ve kalp kapakçığı endotel hücreleri (VEC) saf kültür popülasyonları için bir yöntem sağlar. VEC tüberkülü veya broşürün her iki taraftan da izole edilmiş ve hemen şu olabilir, altta yatan interstisyel hücre (VIC) izolasyonu basittir.