Endothelial cells lining the microvasculature are known to play a critical “gatekeeper” role in the inflammatory process through their ability to recruit circulating immune cells into tissues and foci of inflammation. Studies show that intestinal microvascular endothelial cells exhibit a strong immune response to LPS challenge and play a critical regulatory role in gut inflammation. Pharmacological inhibition of NOS in activated intestinal microvascular endothelial cells resulted in a significant increase in leukocytes binding. Gene expression profile studies revealed that intestinal endothelial cells express biotinidase, which is involved in biotin recycling. Human colonic microvascular endothelial cell (HCoMEC) cultures have enabled scientists to perform systematic analyses of cytokine profiles with regard to mRNA expression and protein secretion, and to compare these data with cytokine profiles from other endothelial cells. HCoMEC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human colonic tissue. HCoMEC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HCoMEC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to vWF/Factor VIII and/or CD31 (PECAM1). HCoMEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HCoMEC are guaranteed to further expand for 10 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Endothelial Cell Medium (ECM, Cat. #1001) for culturing HCoMEC in vitro.