Endothelial cells of the umbilical vein form the inner lining of the veins found in the umbilical cord. They are involved in tube formation and migration which are essential for angiogenesis, the process of generating new blood vessels; this is critical during the fetal stage for the development of the circulatory system. Endothelial cells of the umbilical vein also play a role in controlling the passage of white blood cells into tissues during inflammatory responses. Because human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) can easily be derived from the umbilical cord, and because they express common endothelial cell markers, they have been used as an epithelial cell model for studies on cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and inflammation. They have been used as models for vascular diseases like atherosclerosis, for investigating how tumor cells infiltrate blood vessels and form metastases. Thus, while endothelial cells of the umbilical vein play a critical role in vascular biology, they also represent a powerful tool in disease studies and potential treatment strategies. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.)

endothelial cell of umbilical vein

An endothelial cell of the umbilical vein.

2011-03-14T11:36:51Z

BTO:0004296