HUVECs are cells derived from the endothelium of veins from umbilical cords
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells pictured down a microscope at 200x zoom
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are cells derived from theendothelium ofveins from theumbilical cord. They are used as a laboratory model system for the study of the function and pathology of endothelial cells (e.g.,angiogenesis).[1] They are used due to their low cost, and simple techniques for isolating them from umbilical cords, which are normally resected after childbirth. HUVECs were first isolated andculturedin vitro in the 1970s by Jaffe and others.[2] HUVECs can be easily made to proliferate in a laboratory setting. Likehuman umbilical artery endothelial cells they exhibit a cobblestone phenotype when lining vessel walls.
^Park HJ, Zhang Y, Georgescu SP, Johnson KL, Kong D, Galper JB (2006). "Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells offer new insights into the relationship between lipid metabolism and angiogenesis".Stem Cell Rev.2 (2):93–102.doi:10.1007/s12015-006-0015-x.PMID17237547.S2CID31350461.
^Jiménez, N., Krouwer, V. & Post, J. A new, rapid and reproducible method to obtain high quality endothelium in vitro. Cytotechnology 65, 1-14 (2012).
