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Isolation, culture, and characterization of smooth muscle cells from human intracranial aneurysms

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Abstract

Background

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play a critical role in the vascular wall and also participate in vascular repair mechanisms. Dysfunction of SMCs may also contribute to the formation of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) causing subarachnoid hemorrhage. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of using cultured SMCs as an in vitro model for the study of aneurysmal SMCs.

Methods

IA tissue was obtained during microsurgical ligation of IAs. By using the explant method, cell cultures were established from the aneurysmal tissue. The phenotype of cultured cells from passage to passage was studied using immunoperoxidase staining and Western blotting. Eight cell lines could be established from 29 IA samples. Four lines showing most rigorous growth were investigated more thoroughly.

Results

Abundant expression of SMC markers, α-smooth muscle cell actin and calponin, as well as of prolyl-4-hydroxylases, a key enzyme family in the synthesis of collagens, was observed in all of them. Aneurysmal SMCs in culture maintained their phenotype and SMC characteristics through the early passages of growth.

Conclusion

This is the first documented successful culture of SMCs from human IAs. An access to living human cells of aneurysmal origin gives us a new tool in our research of the formation, growth, and rupture of IAs.

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Abbreviations

αSMA:

α-smooth muscle cell actin

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium

IA:

intracranial aneurysm

P4H:

prolyl-4-hydroxylase

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

PFA:

paraformaldehyde

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulfate

SMC:

smooth muscle cell

WB:

Western blotting

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery Research Group, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Henrik Bygglin, Elisa Laaksamo, Riikka Tulamo, Mika Niemelä & Aki Laakso

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Topeliuksenkatu 5, P.O. Box 266, 00029-HUS, Helsinki, Finland

    Juha Hernesniemi, Mika Niemelä & Aki Laakso

  3. Pulmonary Division, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Marjukka Myllärniemi

Authors
  1. Henrik Bygglin
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  2. Elisa Laaksamo
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  3. Marjukka Myllärniemi
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  4. Riikka Tulamo
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  5. Juha Hernesniemi
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  6. Mika Niemelä
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  7. Aki Laakso
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aki Laakso.

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Bygglin, H., Laaksamo, E., Myllärniemi, M. et al. Isolation, culture, and characterization of smooth muscle cells from human intracranial aneurysms. Acta Neurochir 153, 311–318 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-010-0836-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-010-0836-x

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