Characterisation Of Vaccinium Myrtillus Antho-Cyanosides Effect On Cultured Human Endothelial Cells

Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides (Vma) have been demonstrated as significantly effective substances in promoting wound repair and the formation of new capillaries in experimental animals. Their effect have been also studied in clinical trials, demonstrating a significant anti-haemorrhagic action in patients with defective platelet-endothelium axis (primary haemostasis). We report the results of an extensive study performed on human endothelial cells (h.e.c.) derived from umbilical cord vein and cultured in vitro in the presence of various Vma concentration. As controls non-treated h.e.c. as we 11 as dexamethasone-treated h.e.c . were used. H.e.c. growth rate as well as their morphology, factor VIII related antigen (FVIII R:Ag) content and release and fibronectin extracellular matrix, were the parameters studied in our experiments. Vma cause an increased h.e.c. growth in comparison with controls. This action is similar to the effect described for dexamethasone, but it is not mediated by variations of the fibronectin extracellular matrix. Vma-treated cells do not show any variations of FVIII R:Ag immunofluorescent pattern nor significant morphological changes. The stimulatory action on growth rate is extended to the other cell types of the vessel wall as demonstrated by the cultures of suspensions of h.e.c. highly contaminated by fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells.