Proliferative variability of endothelial clones derived from adult bovine aorta: influence of fibroblast growth factor and smooth muscle cell extracellular matrix.

Four endothelial cell clones derived from adult bovine aorta were examined with respect to their proliferative characteristics in vitro. Three of these clones, derived in the absence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), displayed variable basal proliferative rates. One of these non-FGF derived clones grew at a maximal rate which could not be further enhanced with FGF. The other two clones grew at a suboptimal rate which was stimulated by low doses of FGF (10-50 ng/ml) and inhibited by higher doses (100-250 ng/ml). The fourth clone, derived in the presence of FGF, was stimulated by FGF in a dose-dependent manner (10-250 ng/ml) and was not growth inhibited at high FGF concentrations (250-1,000 ng/ml). Growth of all four clones on extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from bovine aortic smooth muscle (BASM) cells was optimal in the absence of FGF. ECM-coated dishes also significantly increased the sensitivity of all clones by at least fivefold to mitogenic stimulation by serum. The proliferative lifespans of the clones ranged between 60 and 120 generations with the most actively proliferating clones attaining the greatest lifespan. Continuous subculture of two of the endothelial clones in the presence of FGF or on ECM-coated dishes did not induce a dependence of the cells on either factor for subsequent growth in its absence. The results indicate that aortic endothelial cells display considerable clonal variability in ther basal proliferative rate and in their response to FGF. This clonal variability is not observed when the cells are maintained on ECM-coated dishes derived from vascular smooth muscle cells.