Activation of vascular endothelial cells improves the homing of hematopoietic stem cells

AIM: To study the effect of endothelial cell activation on the homing of hematopoietic stem cells (HUHSC) during transplantation. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured to single layer and activated by vascular endothelial growth factor (EVGF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. The HUHSC, enriched by eliminating red blood cells, granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes from cord blood, were cocultured with activated HUVEC to make adhesion. The adhesive ability of activated HUVEC to C-Kit⁺ HUHSC was assayed by ELISA. Anti-VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody was used to detect the effect of activation on HUVEC and HUHSC interactions. RESULTS: Resting HUVEC had a little adhesive ability to HUHSC. A great enhancement of adhesive ability was showed when HUVEC was activated by VEGF, G-CSF and LPS. In the presence of anti-VCAM-1, the adhesive ability of activated HUVEC was decreased remarkablely. CONCLUSION: HUHSC homing may be related to the activation of endothelial cells and adhesion molecules.