Procedure to consistently obtain endothelial and smooth muscle cell cultures from umbilical cord vessels

The prenatal history of an individual can be responsible to some extent for the occurrence of several diseases later in life. Thus, low birth weight has been related to an increased risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes. The molecular and cellular basis of this increased risk could be found in body fluids and cell types that can be obtained just after birth. To get this unique information, a methodology was developed to consistently obtain cultures of 4 cell types, endothelial and smooth muscle cells from both the vein and the arteries present in the umbilical cord of an individual. From 21 umbilical cords processed, 82 of the 84 possible cell cultures were obtained. The cell cultures exhibit the expected cell morphology and cellular characteristics. Thus, endothelial cells express the von Willebrand factor, CD31, as well as bind and internalize acetylated low-density lipoprotein. Vascular smooth muscle cells express the distinctive α-actin. Cell cultures can be cryopreserved and grow healthily for several passages. No influence of birth weight of the newborn has been found in the time required to obtain a primary cell culture for any of the 4 cell types. In conclusion, the procedure developed allows one to routinely obtain actively growing vascular cell cultures that could be used to study the molecular and cellular basis of vascular diseases that emerge in adulthood.