A composite model of the human postcapillary venule for investigation of microvascular leukocyte recruitment

Neutrophil extravasation occurs across postcapillary venules, structures composed of endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes (PCs), and basement membrane (BM). We constructed composite models of the human postcapillary venule, combining ECs with PCs or PC-deposited BM, to better study this process. Quiescent and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-activated composites demonstrated in situ-like expression of cadherins, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), CD99, and interleukin 8 (IL-8). After TNF-α activation, the ECs supported greater neutrophil adhesion (66.1 vs. 23.7% of input cells) and transmigration (35.1 vs. 7.20% of input cells) than did the PCs, but the composites behaved comparably (no significant difference) to ECs in both assays. TNF-α-activated EC-conditioned medium (CM) increased transmigration across the PCs, whereas TNF-α-activated PC-CM decreased transmigration across the ECs, and culturing on PC-derived BM decreased both adhesion to and transmigration across the ECs. Anti-very late antigen 4 (VLA-4; on neutrophils) inhibited adhesion to TNF-α-activated composites, but not to ECs alone. Anti-CD99 (expressed on all 3 cell types) inhibited transmigration across the composites (14.5% of control) more than across the ECs (39.0% of control), and venular shear stress reduced transmigration across the ECs (17.3% of static) more than across the composites (36.7% of static). These results provide proof of concept that our composite human EC/PC/BM venular construct can reveal new interactions in the inflammatory cascade.