HMEC-1 cell culture

Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were kindly provided by Dr. E.W. Ades (CDC, Atlanta, USA)³⁶ via Prof. G. Molema and the UMCG Endothelial Cell Facility. Cells were cultured in M-199 medium (Lonza) supplemented with 10% (v/v) FCS (HyClone), 10% (v/v) human serum (Lonza), 2 mM L-glutamine (Lonza) and 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (Lonza). Cells were expanded in T75 flasks (Corning) at 37 °C and 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere. For immunophenotyping, cells were cultured on coverslips. Tube formation assays were performed as described below.