Isolation and culture of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs)
1. The human pulmonary arteries were opened to expose the endothelial
surface, which was removed by gentle scraping with a scalpel.
2. The surrounding adventitia was then carefully dissected from the tunica media.
3. Cells were derived either from explants or after tissue digestion.
4. For the explant technique, the pulmonary arterial media was cut into ∼2-mm cubes and plated onto 25-cm2 tissue culture flasks.
5. Explants
were left to adhere overnight and then were maintained in primary cell
culture, 10% FBS, and antibiotic-antimycotic solution (100 U/ml of
penicillin, 100 μg/ml of streptomycin, and 250 ng/ml of amphotericin B).
6. The cells were passed after ∼2 wk into a single 75-cm2flask and grown to confluence in primary cell culture system.
7. For
tissue digests, the medial layer was cut into small pieces with a
scalpel and incubated in type II collagenase (1,000 U/ml) in serum-free
medium at 37°C for 4 h.
8. The action of collagenase was stopped by the addition of primary cell culture system.
9. The
cells were then passed through a filter (pore size 100 μm) and
centrifuged at 200g for 5 min, then resuspended in primary cell culture
system before being plated in 25-cm2 flasks.
10. Subsequent passages
were carried out at confluence, dividing one flask into four. Cells
were used for experiments between passages 3 and 10.
11. The
phenotype of isolated cells was investigated with antibodies to smooth
muscle-specific antigens: monoclonal anti-α-smooth muscle actin and
anti-smooth muscle myosin.
12. For immunostaining, the cells were grown to subconfluence in eight-well slide chambers.
13. The cells were fixed in acetone at −20°C for 10 min, then washed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 3 × 5 min.
14. The
cells were incubated with primary antibody for 1 h at room temperature,
then with anti-mouse FITC-conjugated secondary antibody for 1 h, again
at room temperature.
15. Between steps, the slides were thoroughly rinsed in PBS for 3 × 5 min at room temperature.
16. The cells were then mounted in a solution of PBS and glycerol (1:1) and visualized by fluorescence microscopy.
References
Morrell
NW, Upton PD, Kotecha S, et al. Angiotensin II activates MAPK and
stimulates growth of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle via AT1
receptors. Am J Physiol. 1999; 277: L440–L448.