A protocol for isolation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

We describe a protocol for easy isolation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to supply every researcher with a method that can be applied in cell biology laboratories with minimum equipment. Endothelial cells (ECs) are isolated from umbilical vein vascular wall by a collagenase treatment, then seeded on fibronectin-coated plates and cultured in a medium with Earles' salts and fetal calf serum (FCS), but without growth factor supplementation, for 7 days in a 37 °C–5% CO2 incubator. Cell confluency can be monitored by phase-contrast microscopy; ECs can be characterized using cell surface or intracellular markers and checked for contamination. Various protocols can be applied to HUVECs, from simple harvesting to a particular solubilization of proteins for proteomic analysis.