Migratory abilities of different vascular cells from the tunica
media of canine vessels.
Seidel, Charles L., Thorunn Helgason, Julius C. Allen, and Campbell
Wilson.
Baylor College of Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Sciences and
Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, UK
APStracts 3:0320C, 1996.
In response to injury, vascular smooth muscle cells are thought to
migrate toward the area of damage where they participate in the
reparative process. Recently we have identified and isolated two
distinct cell types (VSMCs and Type 2 cells) from the tunica media of
canine carotid artery and saphenous vein. The purpose of these
experiments was to determine if both cell types were able to migrate
in response to a variety of chemoattractants. A multi-well Boyden
chamber and a wound migration assay were used to assess the migratory
ability of these cells in vitro. The results indicated that VSMCs did
not exhibit directed migration in response to either 10% fetal bovine
serum or to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB. In contrast,
Type 2 cells migrated to serum, PDGF-AB and -BB but not to PDGF-AA,
endothelin-1 or endothelin-3. No difference in migratory ability was
detected between Type 2 cells isolated from carotid arteries or
saphenous veins. It is concluded that the migratory ability of cells
within the tunica media of vessels from adult animals are not equal
suggesting that only selected cells may participate in vascular wall
repair.
Received 19 March 1996; accepted in final form 26 September 1996.
APS Manuscript Number C159-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 November 1996