Human mature endothelial cells modulate peripheral blood mononuclear cell differentiation toward an endothelial phenotype

A 3-day co-culture period increased the expression of VEGF-R2, VE-cadherin, αvβ3- and α5-integrin in both the adherent and suspended PBMCs, assessed by cytofluorimetric analysis, and up-regulated VEGF-R1 mRNA assessed by real-time RT-PCR. HCAECs influenced PBMC adhesion, transendothelial migration and cell organization on Matrigel. Hypoxia modulated either PBMC differentiation or their functional properties. These data strongly suggest that endothelium may support the differentiation of PBMCs into EPCs.