Figure 1. HUVECs Cultured in EC-Cult™-XF Have Cobblestone-Like Morphology

Phase-contrast image of HUVECs cultured in EC-Cult™-XF. Cells grow as monolayers and retain their typical cobblestone-like morphology of endothelial cells.

Figure 2. HUVECs Cultured Long-Term in Complete EC-Cult™-XF Retain Purity of Endothelial Markers.

HUVECs cultured and passaged in complete EC-Cult™-XF medium were compared to HUVECs cultured and passaged in an alternative commercial medium. Both sets of HUVECs were then analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells cultured in EC-Cult™-XF medium had higher retention of the endothelial markers CD31 and CD144 through 19 passages.

Figure 3. HUVECs Can Be Expanded For Greater Passage Numbers in EC-Cult™-XF Than in Alternative Commercial Media

HUVECs were cultured and expanded in EC-Cult™-XF medium or alternative commercial medium (A and B). HUVECs expanded in complete EC-Cult™-XF medium outperformed those in the alternative media, with population doublings continuing to increase beyond passage 16.

Figure 4. HUVECs Form Tubular Networks When Cultured in Complete EC-Cult™-XF Medium

HUVECs, from passage 2 and passage 7, were plated at 10,000 cells/well (96-well plate) in complete EC-Cult™-XF medium and grown for 24 hours on Corning® Matrigel®. Cells were imaged at different time points and shown to form defined tubular branching points as early as after 2 hours of plating.

Figure 5. HUVECs are Functionally Active at Early and Late Passages

The ability of HUVECs to metabolise acetylated LDL was examined by adding labeled acetylated LDL into the cells and incubated for 4-6 hours before imaging using a confocal microscope. Cells were shown to be functionally active and able to incorporate acetylated LDL at early (P2) and late (P7) passage when cultured in EC-Cult™-XF Medium.