A semi-quantitative assay to screen for angiogenic compounds and compounds with angiogenic potential using the EA. hy926 endothelial cell line

Angiogenesis, the development of new capillary vessels, has a host of clinical manifestations. The identification of agents that increase or decrease angiogenesis is of great pharmaceutical interest. Classically, in vitro angiogenesis utilizes human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown in matrigel. This valid and simple method has the drawbacks that each cell population is distinct and the constraint of obtaining primary source material. Herein we utilize the established EA.hy926 endothelial cell line as our model for in vitro angiogenesis and present a novel formula to quantify endothelial cell remodeling to identify pro- and anti-angiogenic agents. Furthermore, our technique details the procedures to identify and quantify compounds that have the capacity to generate pro- or anti-angiogenic factors when given to non-endothelial cells, which we define herein as angiogenic potential. In conclusion, we propose a novel formula that we are confident accurately reflects the degree of in vitro angiogenesis allowing the quantification of prospective angiogenic compounds.

The action of ovarian hormones in cardiovascular disease

The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CAD) differs between men and women, in part because of differences in risk factors and hormones. This sexual dimorphism means a lower incidence in atherosclerotic diseases in premenopausal women, which subsequently rises in postmenopausal women to eventually equal that of men. These observations point towards estrogen and progesterone playing a lifetime protective role against CAD in women. As exogenous estrogen and estrogen plus progesterone preparations produce significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and significant increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, this should in theory lower the risk of CAD. However, results from oral contraceptive (OC) use and combined estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have suggested that hormone replacement regimes do not provide cardiovascular protection. In fact, depending on the preparation and the presence or absence of genetic risk factors, an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke have been observed. Interestingly, in the majority of studies the increase in risk was highest in the first year, after which an increase in risk was not observed, and in some studies a lower risk of CAD was evident after four or five years of exogenous hormone administration. While the debate continues about the merits of HRT, and several good reviews exist on the statistics of CAD in relation to exogenous hormones, we have decided to review the literature to piece together the physiological actions of estrogen and progesterone preparations on the individual mechanistic components leading to CAD; namely, the altered endothelium and the haemostatic balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis. We present possible mechanisms for how HRT and OCs protect against MI in the absence of cardiovascular risk factors but increase the incidence of MI in their presence. We also speculate on the roles played by hormones on the short- and long-term risks of cardiovascular disease.