Effects of rapid decompression on HUVECs in vitro
Yu, X.; Xu, J.; Huang, G.; Zhang, K.; Liu, K.; Zheng, J.; Xu, W.
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Inc 43(4): 421-426
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1066-2936 PMID: 28763171 Document Number: 689823
To explore the possible effects of rapid decompression on the activity and function of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures were exposed at 7 atmospheres absolute (atm abs) air for two hours before decompression. Two decompression profiles were used at the rate of 30 atm abs min-1 (rapid decompression) or 1 atm abs min-1 (normal decompression). Three hours after decompression, cell activity was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay; cell permeability was measured by electrical resistance determinations. Twelve hours after decompression, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V FITC/PI double staining. There was no significant statistical difference between rapid and normal decompression groups in all the determined parameters (P=0.59, 0.87, 0.86 and 0.81, respectively). HUVECs endure rapid decompression well from 7 atm abs at the rate of 30 atm abs min-1, or the current determinations are not sensitive enough to reveal the possible injuries. Further research with more sensitive indexes is warranted to reveal the possible effects and mechanisms.