The isolation and characterization of enriched microvascular endothelial cells from mouse adipose tissue. The induction of class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

Collagenase digestion and selective filtration have been used to establish primary cultures from mouse omentum of cells enriched for microvascular endothelium. In culture these cells exhibit a cobblestone morphology characteristic of endothelial cells, metabolize an acetylated low-density lipoprotein, and exhibit trace levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. In primary cultures, the cells are negative for class II molecules (Ia) of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) but can be induced to express these molecules by exposure to a supernatant from concanavalin A (ConA)-treated rat spleen cells or by recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma). This procedure can provide a readily available source of enriched endothelial cells which can be used to understand the interactions between these cells and cells of the immune system.