The pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEC) lining the pulmonary vasculature form a semiselective barrier which is critical for gas exchange and the regulation of fluid, macromolecules, and cells between the blood and the interstitial compartments in the lung. PMEC also produce angiotensin-converting enzyme to activate angiotensin, a peptide hormone which causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure. PMEC further plays an important role in modulating cellular properties of pulmonary mesenchymal cells and inflammatory events. Such functions of PMEC are implicated in acute lung injury, pulmonary hypertension, edema, embolism, and lung cancer development. HPMEC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human lung. HPMEC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HPMEC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to vWF/Factor VIII and/or CD31 (PECAM). HPMEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. HPMEC are guaranteed to further expand for 10 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Endothelial Cell Medium (ECM, Cat. #1001) for culturing HPMEC in vitro.