Human endothelial cells transfected by SV40 T antigens: characterization and potential use as a source of normal endothelial factors

A putative role for the vascular endothelium as target for autoantibodies has been suggested in several autoimmune disorders and connective‐tissue diseases. However, there are some difficulties linked to the use of cultured endothelial cells (EC) that limit considerably the extensive studies on the nature of endothelial target antigens involved. To overcome this problem, human EC, derived from umbilical veins, were transfected with recombinant plasmid pSV1 which contained the early genes of simian virus SV40. These transfected cells, called EC‐pSV1, are able to grow without EC growth supplement and demonstrate a population doubling time of about 50 h. Among the EC properties, EC‐pSV1 retain intracellular content of angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity, exhibit constitutive production of interleukin 6 and of a growth‐promoting activity on early passage EV, express intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) and its up‐regulation by tumor necrosis factor α, but have lost the expression of factor VIII‐related antigen. Moreover, EC‐pSV1 express a 55‐kDa antigen found on EC and human platelets, and presumably acting as an antibody target in some cases of non‐allergic asthma. However, at the 50–55th generation, morphological changes and altered growth behavior were visible. This work demonstrates that transfection of EC with SV40 T antigens may be of interest, particularly in areas of research including the study of EC targets involved in different human diseases.