Authors: Lessiak Ulrike, Melchert Maria, Walter Ingrid, Kummer Stefan, Nell Barbara, Tschulenk Waltraud, Pratscher Barbara
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Angiogenesis—the formation of new blood vessels—underpins healing, tissue regeneration and pathological conditions in horses, yet research tools specific to equine vascular biology remain sparse. Lessiak and colleagues have developed and characterised a practical isolation protocol for equine umbilical vein endothelial cells (EqUVECs) using umbilical cord tissue from five foals, establishing this cell line as a robust in-vitro model analogous to the widely-used human equivalent (HUVECs). The isolated cells demonstrated authentic endothelial characteristics including typical morphology, positive immunohistochemical staining for von Willebrand factor, CD31 and VEGFR-2, and functional capacity in standard angiogenesis assays including proliferation, migration and tube formation; importantly, the cells also expressed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical mediator in vascular development. This work provides equine researchers and clinicians with an accessible in-vitro platform for investigating species-specific vascular responses to injury, inflammation, tendon and bone healing, and potentially for testing novel therapeutic interventions—bridging a significant gap between basic cell biology and clinical equine medicine. The relatively minimal technical requirements for cell isolation enhance the feasibility of this model for veterinary research facilities seeking to better understand equine-specific angiogenic mechanisms.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This cell culture model provides researchers with an accessible equine-specific tool for investigating angiogenesis and vascular biology, potentially accelerating development of treatments for equine vascular and tissue healing disorders.
- •The protocol's minimal technical requirements make it reproducible across research facilities, supporting wider adoption of equine-specific models rather than relying solely on human or other species data.
- •Future applications could include testing therapeutic agents for conditions involving impaired or excessive angiogenesis (laminitis, tendon healing, wound repair) before clinical trials in horses.
Key Findings
- •Equine umbilical vein endothelial cells (EqUVECs) were successfully isolated from foal umbilical cords using a minimal-requirement protocol suitable for research accessibility.
- •EqUVECs demonstrated typical endothelial cell characteristics including positive expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF), CD31, and VEGFR-2 markers.
- •EqUVECs performed effectively in standard angiogenesis assays including viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation, and VEGF expression assessment.
- •EqUVECs represent a validated equine-specific in vitro model for studying vascular processes and testing therapeutic interventions targeting angiogenesis.