Expression and function of the non-neuronal cholinergic system in endothelial cells

Increasing evidence has shown the expression of the non-neuronal cholinergic system in endothelial cells. In the present experiments the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was investigated in human endothelial cells by anti-ChAT immunohistochemistry and anti-ChAT immunofluorescence. Positive ChAT immunoreactivity was found in cultures of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) and a human angiosarcoma cell line (HAEND). In HUVEC and HAEND choline acetyltransferase activity and small amounts of acetylcholine were also detected. Positive ChAT-immunoreactivity was demonstrated in situ in endothelial cells of the human umbilical cord. In addition, in experiments with confocal lase…