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Hormone-deprived serum impairs angiogenic properties in human endothelial cells regardless of estrogens

Hormone-deprived serum impairs angiogenic properties in human endothelial cells regardless of estrogens

Authors :
Lucia M. Vicentini
Claudia Vanetti
Maria Grazia Cattaneo
Source :
Endocrine Research. 41:325-333
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
Informa UK Limited, 2016.

Abstract

In vitro studies on hormone biological activities are commonly performed on cells cultured in nominally hormone-free media consisting of phenol-red-free media supplemented with charcoal-stripped (CS) serum. These media are largely used in almost all cell types, including endothelial cells (ECs).Cell number and metabolic activity were measured with standard methods. Angiogenesis was evaluated in a three-dimensional spheroid sprouting assay.When we compared human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) cultured in standard conditions (199 medium supplemented with normal serum) with HUVECs grown in the hormone-free medium (phenol-red-free 199 medium supplemented with CS serum), we found that cells stop to grow in the absence of hormones. Notably, neither 17-β2 estradiol nor dihydrotestosterone reversed this inhibition. Moreover, the presence of the CS serum was sufficient to abrogate the ability of HUVECs to sprout in a three-dimensional spheroid assay, thus affecting a functional property of ECs.Our results suggest that one or possibly more substances removed by stripping procedure from serum and different from sex hormones are crucial for the maintenance of in vitro ECs distinctive properties. Therefore, caution should be used when ECs are studied in media containing the CS serum.

Details

ISSN :
15324206 and 07435800
Volume :
41
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Endocrine Research
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....f10b4b45cb4201d001f96f3e0b6c4350
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3109/07435800.2016.1155599