Abstract
Molecular species of several phospholipid classes and subclasses were quantitatively determined in human umbilical artery and vein endothelial cells. Both types of endothelial cells were similar in phospholipid class composition, whereas they were markedly different in phospholipid subclass and molecular species composition. The amounts of two ether subclasses in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were higher in artery endothelial cells than those in vein endothelial cells. The relative content of alkylacyl subclass in phosphatidylcholine, a precursor of platelet-activating factor, was about three times higher in artery endothelial cells than in vein endothelial cells. In artery endothelial cells, arachidonic acid was in highest amounts in alkenylacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, followed by diacyl phosphatidylcholine, diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. In the vein endothelial cells, arachidonic acid was highest in phosphatidylinositol, followed by diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, diacyl phosphatidylcholine, and alkenylacyl phosphatidylethanolamine. Artery endothelial cells had higher amounts of molecular species containing arachidonic acid than vein endothelial cells in all phospholipid classes and subclasses. These differences are thought to reflect the functional differences of artery and vein endothelial cells.
Highlights
Molecular species of several phospholipid classes and subclasses were quantitatively determined in human umbilical artery and vein endothelial cells
Alkylacyl PC, which is an important phospholipid as a precursor of platelet-activating factor (PAF), and other phospholipid classes have not been analyzed on the molecular species level
Phospholipid class compositions were similar in artery and vein endothelial cells (Table 1)
Summary
Endothelial cells from arteries and veins of human umbilical cords were prepared by a modification ofthe method ofJaffe et al [17]. Umbilical cords obtained after normal vaginal deliveries were used. The umbilical cord was set in a petri dish containing moist, sterile gauze and incubated for 10-15 min at 37OC. The cord was gently rubbed together and the cell suspension was drained into 10 mlof Medium 199, centrifuged, andthe cellswere seeded onto plastic dishes coated with 0.2% gelatin. Endothelial cells were cultured in Medium 199 containing 20% inactivated humanserum, penicillin (50 IU/ml), streptomycin (50 pg/ml), amphotericin B (2.5 pg/ml), endothelial mitogen (100 pglml), and heparin (90 pg/ml). The dishes were incubated at 37OC under 5% COPA. Fter serial subculture, endothelial cells harvested in the sixth The dishes were incubated at 37OC under 5% COPA. fter serial subculture, endothelial cells harvested in the sixth
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
