Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEC) lining the pulmonary vasculature form a semi-selective barrier which is critical for gas exchange and the regulation of fluid, macromolecules, and cells between the blood and the interstitial compartments in the lung. PMEC also produce angiotensin-converting enzyme to activate angiotensin, a peptide hormone which causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure. PMEC further plays an important role in modulating cellular properties of pulmonary mesenchymal cells and inflammatory events. Such functions of PMEC play roles in acute lung injury, pulmonary hypertension, edema, embolism, and lung cancer development. HPMEC will provide an in vitro model in the pathophysiological studies of prostatic diseases; such as prostatitis, prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. They are also useful tools to stablish in vitro disease models for High Throughput and High Content Screening.