Colonic Microvascular Endothelial Cells (CMEC)

Endothelial or vascular endothelium is a thin layer of specialized epithelial cells, which is composed of a layer of flat cells. It forms the inner wall of the blood vessel, it is the interface of blood vessel and other vessel wall. Endothelial cells are the entire circulatory system, from the heart to the least of the microvascular. Studies show that intestinal microvascular endothelial cells exhibit a strong immune response to LPS challenge and play a critical regulatory role in gut inflammation. Pharmacological inhibition of NOS in activated intestinal microvascular endothelial cells resulted in a significant increase in leukocytes binding. Gene expression profile studies revealed that intestinal endothelial cells express biotinidase, which is involved in biotin recycling. Colonic microvascular endothelial cells cultures have enabled scientists to perform systematic analyses of cytokine profiles with regard to mRNA expression and protein secretion, and to compare these data with cytokine profiles from other endothelial cells.