iCell® Endothelial Cells –Assaying Barrier Function Using xCELLigence RTCA Cardio System Application Protocol

Proper regulation of endothelium barrier integrity is a fundamental feature of angiogenesis and vascular homeostasis. Dysregulation of this barrier has been associated with pathological conditions, such as inflammation and vascular diseases, tumor metastasis, and early stages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. iCell® Endothelial Cells, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, exhibit
morphological, biochemical, and pathophysiological characteristics of a native human endothelium. The xCELLigence RTCA Cardio System (RTCA System) is a non-invasive, label free platform that utilizes impedance changes across the cell monolayer to indirectly measure cell-cell interaction, transient contractions, and cell layer permeability. This application Note describes how to handle iCell Endothelial Cells for use on the RTCA System and provides basic instructions for compound treatment, data acquisition, and analysis. Together iCell Endothelial Cells and the RTCA System enable in vitro screening of compound effects on human endothelium permeability.