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Human and equine endothelial cells in a live cell imaging scratch assay in vitro. BACKGROUND: Human and equine patients are known to frequently develop vascular complications, particularly thrombosis both in veins and arteries as well as in the microvasculature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the angiogenic response of human and equine endothelial cells to lesions in an in vitro scratch assay. METHODS: Endothelial cells from human umbilical vein (HUVEC), abdominal aorta (HAAEC) and dermal microvasculature (HDMEC) as well as equine carotid artery (EACEC) and jugular vein (EVJEC) were cultured and an elongated defect was created (scratch or "wound"). Cultures were monitored over a period of 90 hours in a live cell imaging microscope. RESULTS: In the human endothelial cell cultures, there was a uniform and continuous migration of the cells from the scratch fringe into the denuded area, which was closed after 17 (HUVEC), 15 (HAAEC) and 26 (HDMEC) hours. In the equine endothelial cell cultures, a complete closure of the induced defect occurred after 17 (EVJEC) and 35 (EACEC) hours. CONCLUSIONS: In the equine arterial cells, the delay in closure of the denuded area seems to be the results of a disoriented and uncoordinated migration of endothelial tip cells resulting in slow re-endothelialization.