VascuLife® Media for Primary Endothelial Cells
Low-serum culture media for large-vessel and microvascular (MV) human endothelial cells
VascuLife® media from Lifeline Cell Technology are specifically formulated for primary human endothelial cells from two vascular compartments: large blood vessel and the microvasculature. Four formulations are available: EnGS, VEGF, EnGS-Mv and VEGF-Mv. They differ in their growth supplement composition and target cell type.
All four formulations are low-serum media, containing either 2% or 5% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). The VascuLife Basal Medium is free of antimicrobials and phenol red.
VascuLife media are used in angiogenesis, vascular biology and related research applications.
VEGF vs. EnGS: What Is the Difference?
The key difference between the VEGF and EnGS formulations is the growth supplement.
VEGF – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
VEGF is a signalling protein involved in endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. VascuLife VEGF media contain recombinant human VEGF (rh VEGF, 5 ng/mL), rh FGF basic (5 ng/mL) and rh IGF-1 (15 ng/mL).
EnGS – Endothelial Cell Growth Supplement
EnGS is Lifeline’s endothelial cell growth supplement. The EnGS formulations contain EnGS (0.2%) instead of the combination of rh VEGF, rh FGF basic and rh IGF-1 found in the VEGF formulations.
EnGS may be suitable when the experimental design requires a different growth supplement composition, for example when VEGF is added separately as part of an experimental treatment.
VascuLife Media Comparison
The table below summarises the composition and main differences between the four VascuLife Complete Medium Kits. Concentrations refer to the final supplemented medium.
| Large-Vessel Endothelial Cells | Microvascular Endothelial Cells | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Medium Kit | VascuLife EnGS (#LL-0002) |
VascuLife VEGF (#LL-0003) |
VascuLife EnGS-Mv (#LL-0004) |
VascuLife VEGF-Mv (#LL-0005) |
| Kit contents | VascuLife Basal Medium (#LM-0002) + EnGS LifeFactors Kit (#LS-1019) | VascuLife Basal Medium (#LM-0002) + VEGF LifeFactors Kit (#LS-1020) | VascuLife Basal Medium (#LM-0002) + EnGS-Mv LifeFactors Kit (#LS-1035) | VascuLife Basal Medium (#LM-0002) + VEGF-Mv LifeFactors Kit (#LS-1029) |
| Components / Final Concentration in Supplemented Medium | ||||
| rh FGF basic (5 ng/mL) | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| rh IGF-1 (15 ng/mL) | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| rh VEGF (5 ng/mL) | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| EnGS (0.2%) | ✓ | – | ✓ | – |
| FBS | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% |
| Ascorbic Acid (50 µg/mL) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hydrocortisone Hemisuccinate (1 µg/mL) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| L-Glutamine (10 mM) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| rh EGF (5 ng/mL) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heparin Sulfate (0.75 U/mL) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optional Supplements | ||||
| Gentamicin (30 µg/mL) & Amphotericin B (15 ng/mL)* | Supplied | Supplied | Supplied | Supplied |
| Phenol Red Supplement (33 mM)** (#LS-1009) |
Available separately | |||
Each VascuLife Complete Medium Kit contains 475 mL of VascuLife Basal Medium (#LM-0002) and the corresponding LifeFactors Kit. VascuLife Basal Medium does not contain antimicrobials or phenol red. The basal medium and supplement kits are also available separately.
* Gentamicin and Amphotericin B (LS-1104) are supplied with the Complete Medium Kits and can be added as an antimicrobial supplement.
**Phenol Red Supplement (#LS-1009) is available separately for applications that require phenol red.
Which Endothelial Cells Are Available?
The following normal human primary endothelial cells are available for use with the VascuLife Media for endothelial cells.
Large-vessel endothelial cells
- Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAEC) (#FC-0032)
- Normal Human Iliac Artery Endothelial Cells (HIAEC) (#FC-0028)
- Normal Human Aortic Endothelial Cells (HAECs) (#FC-0014)
- Normal Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells (HPAEC) (#FC-0055)
- Normal Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC), primary (#FC-0003)
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC), 10-donor pool (#FC-0044)
Microvascular endothelial cells
- Normal Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells, adult (HD-MVECa) (#FC-0039)***
- Normal Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells, neonatal (HD-MVECn) (#FC-0042)
- Normal Human Primary Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HCMEC) (#FC-0053)***
- Normal Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells (#FC-0058)***
*** To support proliferation of #FC-0039, #FC-0053 or #FC-0058, LifeLine recommends the VascuLife VEGF-Mv Medium Complete Kit (#LL-0005).
For cell-specific information, including tissue origin and recommended culture conditions, please refer to the individual product pages.
Looking for the right VascuLife medium for your endothelial cells? Contact us for product information and selection support.
Related Product: VascuLife® Smooth Muscle Cell (SMC) Growth Medium (#LL-0014) is optimised for the culture of human smooth muscle cells (SMC).
