Monocyte-endothelium-smooth muscle cell interaction in co-culture: Proliferation and cytokine productions in response to advanced glycation end products

► We establish a co-culture system to clarify the effects of vascular cells by AGEs. ► Monocytes, vein endothelial cells and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells are co-cultured. ► Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) is induced by AGEs in co-culture system. ► SMC treated with AGEs express cytokines, IL-6 and MCP-1. ► Cytokines expression is elevated in the co-culture system of HUVEC and THP-1 when treated with AGEs.