Capillary Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Migration

We investigated the role of extracellular magnesium on capillary endothelial cel migration and proliferation, components of endothelial cell function that play an important role in angiogenesis and wound healing. Cell migration and proliferation were tested in six different MgSO4 concentrations and in various culture conditions. The Boyden chamber procedure was used to evaluate migration of bovine adrenal cortex capillary endothelial cells. We found that low magnesium concentration inhibited cell migration, but a dose-dependent increase in migration was observed when magnesium level was increased beyond the normal serum concentration (up to 2.4 mM magnesium;p<0.0001). Cell proliferation was also inhibited by very low magnesium concentration, an effect observed under all conditions studied. When cell proliferation was stimulated by acidic or basic fibroblast growth factors, it appeared that a ceiling was reached,