Efficacy of IKVAV Peptide on HUVEC Microtissue Growth

The extracellular matrix (ECM) structure of the three-dimensional (3D) network of cells in body play an important role in cellular events. Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions can be achieved in 3D cell culture systems as in vivo systems. For this reason, the loss of cell functions is less in 3D cultures than in two dimensional systems. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) which are model cell types, are frequently used because of easily isolation and using vasculogenesis research in 3D culture. The isoleucine-Iysine-valine-alanine-valine (Ile-Lys- Val-Ala-Val (IKVAV)) sequence, one of the most effective units of laminin, is used as a support material in the ECM. IKVAV peptides can affect many cellular functions such as adhesion, proliferation, migration, metastasis, and are used in cell culture systems. The effects of IKVAV peptide on HUVEC microtissues were examined in this study. Increase in diameter was observed in microtissues incubated with concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mM peptides. Also when comparison of microtissues with and without peptide concentrations, has been shown to the IKVAV peptide increase cell viability. Compared with 0.5 and 1 mM, higher cell viability and diameter values are observed at 1 mM peptide concentration. This information supports the results of monolayer studies in the literature.