Prostacyclin release induced by neurokinins in cultured human endothelial cells

The effects of neurokinins (NK) and related peptides on the secretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, a stable metabolite of prostacyclin, were measured. These peptides enhanced three- to five-fold the basal secretion rate with the following rank order of potency (based on threshold concentrations for a significant output): substance P (SP) greater than or equal to NKA greater than SP 4-11 greater than or equal to [pGlu6]SP 6-11 = SP 7-11.NKB and SP 1-9 were inactive. Ac[Arg6, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP, a NK1 receptor selective agonist, was more potent than other selective agonists for the NK2 and NK3 receptor subtypes. These results suggest that the NK receptors, which mediate the release of prostacyclin from human endothelial cells, belong to the NK1 subtype.     

Comparison of tissue-cultured bovine endothelial cells from aorta and saphenous vein

Endothelial cells were harvested from bovine aorta and saphenous vein with collagenase and cultured in McCoy's 5a medium (modified GIBCO) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cells were subcultured through 17 passages over 4 to 5 months. The growth properties in culture of the two cell types were compared. Morphological comparisons included phase microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Comparisons with cultured aortic smooth-muscle cells were made using phase and scanning electron microscopy. No differences were found between cultured endothelial cells from aorta and saphenous vein. Differences in growth patterns in culture clearly distinguished both endothelial cell types from smooth-muscle cells. The presence of Weibel-Palade bodies identified the cells from both sources as endothelial.     

Comparison of tissue-cultured bovine endothelial cells from aorta and sphenous vein

Summary Endothelial cells were harvested from bovine aorta and saphenous vein with collagenase and cultured in McCoy's 5a medium (modified GIBCO) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cells were subcultured through 17 passages over 4 to 5 months. The growth properties in culture of the two cell types were compared. Morphological comparisons included phase microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Comparisons with cultured aortic smooth-muscle cells were made using phase and scanning electron microscopy. No differences were found between cultured endothelial cells from aorta and saphenous vein. Differences in growth patterns in culture clearly distinguished both endothelial cell types from smooth-muscle cells. The presence of Weibel-Palade bodies identified the cells from both sources as endothelial. This work was supproted by Grants HL-1330 and HL-17269 from NIH.     

Ethanolamine metabolism in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

The role of extracellular ethanolamine in phospholipid synthesis was examined in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Serine and ethanolamine were both readily accumulated by these cells and incorporated into phospholipid. Exposing cells to extracellular ethanolamine for 4-6 weeks had no effect on cell growth, yet increased the phosphatidylethanolamine content of these cells by 31% as compared to control cells. The intracellular content of ethanolamine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography, and results showed that the ethanolamine-treated cells contained a significantly greater amount of free ethanolamine compared to control cells (0.62 +/- 0.07 nmol/mg of protein versus 0.27 +/- 0.05 nmol/mg of protein, respectively). Ethanolamine-treated cells also had decreased accumulation and incorporation into lipid of [3H]ethanolamine throughout a 48-h incubation and increased K'm and V'max parameters of ethanolamine transport as compared to control cells. Studies were also done to examine the effect of ethanolamine on the generation of free ethanolamine from phosphatidylserine. In pulse-chase experiments with [3H]serine, a physiological concentration of ethanolamine (25 microM) decreased the amount of 3H-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine produced from 3H-labeled phosphatidylserine by 12 h as compared to the amount of 3H-labeled phosphatidyl-ethanolamine produced in the absence of ethanolamine in the chase incubation. Furthermore, ethanolamine-treated cells accumulated 20% less labeled ethanolamine in the aqueous pool from [3H]serine after 24 h of incubation than did control cells. These results can be explained by isotope dilution with the ethanolamine pool that accumulates in these cells with time when exposed to media supplemented with a physiological concentration of ethanolamine and by an effect of ethanolamine on ethanolamine generation from phosphatidylserine. The results show that an extracellular source of ethanolamine significantly influences the phospholipid metabolism of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.     

Stimulation of large proteoglycan synthesis in cultured smooth muscle cells from pig aorta by endothelial cell-conditioned medium.

We have previously shown (Berrou et al., J. Cell. Phys., 137:430-438, 1988) that porcine endothelial cell-conditioned medium (ECCM) stimulates proteoglycan synthesis by smooth muscle cells from pig aorta. ECCM stimulation requires protein cores for glycosaminoglycan chain initiation and is accompanied by an increase in the hydrodynamic size of proteoglycans secreted into the medium. This work investigates the mechanisms involved in the ECCM effect. 1) Control and ECCM stimulated proteoglycan synthesis (measured by a 20 min [35S]-sulfate labeling assay) was not inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that the proteoglycans were composed of preexisting protein cores and that ECCM stimulates glycosylation of these protein cores. 2) Whereas ECCM stimulation of [35S]-methionine incorporation into secreted proteins only occurred after a 6 h incubation, the increase in [35S] methionine-labeled proteoglycans was observed after 1 h, and the increase was stable for at least 16 h. 3) As analysed by electrophoresis in SDS, chondroitinase digestion generated from [14C] serine-labeled proteoglycans 7 protein cores of high apparent molecular mass (550-200 kDa) and one of 47 kDa. The two protein cores of highest apparent molecular masses (550 and 460 kDa), but not the 47 kDa protein cores, showed increased [14C]-serine incorporation in response to ECCM (51%, as measured by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography). 4) Finally, incorporation of [35S]-sulfate into chondroitinase-generated glycosaminoglycan linkage stubs on protein cores was determined by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography: ECCM did not modify the ratio [35S]/[14C] in stimulated protein cores, indicating that ECCM did not affect the number of glycosaminoglycan chains. The results of these studies reveal that 1) endothelial cells secrete factor(s) that preferentially stimulate synthesis of the largest smooth muscle cell proteoglycans without structural modifications and 2) the stimulation proceeds via increased glycosylation of protein core through enhancement of xylosylated protein core, followed by enhanced protein synthesis.     

Antioxidants protect cultured bovine lung endothelial cells from injury by endotoxin

Endotoxin injures bovine pulmonary endothelial cells in culture but the cytotoxicity is unaffected by a host of antiinflammatory drugs. We hypothesized that agents which could decrease intracellular concentrations of toxic metabolites of O2 would prevent endotoxin effects on cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells. We measured endotoxin-induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from and production of prostanoids by cultured bovine pulmonary endothelial cells in the presence and absence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol. Escherichia coli endotoxin (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) caused a dose-related release of LDH and stimulated production of both prostacyclin [measured as 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha)] and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Both DMSO and allopurinol decreased endotoxin-induced LDH release; this effect was related to concentration of the drugs (0-2% for DMSO and 0-0.3 mg/ml for allopurinol). Both drugs also prevented endotoxin-induced changes in endothelial morphology. Endotoxin increased intracellular reduction of the redox dye nitro blue tetrazolium, caused intracellular oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and caused release of conjugated dienes from endothelial cells; both DMSO and allopurinol inhibited those responses. DMSO, but not allopurinol, prevented endotoxin-induced production of prostacyclin and PGE2 by endothelium. Direct injury of pulmonary endothelium by endotoxin is inhibited by two chemically dissimilar drugs which have a common potential for decreasing intracellular concentrations of toxic metabolites of O2; indirect evidence suggests that potential as a mechanism for the protective effects of the drugs.     

Immunocytochemical localization of endothelin in cultured bovine endothelial cells

To investigate the intracellular localization of endothelin in cultured endothelial cells, an immunocytochemical study was carried out by the post-embedding protein A-gold technique with endothelin-specific antiserum. Gold particles were seen on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi cisternae, the Golgi vesicles, small vesicles beneath the cell membrane, and the lysosomes. By contrast, no secretory granules were observed. These results suggest that endothelin is secreted by a constitutive pathway and that the lysosome may play an important role in regulating the biological activity of endothelin.     

Bradykinin-induced potassium current in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Summary Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) respond to bradykinin with an increase in cytosolic-free Ca²⁺ concentration, [Ca²⁺] _i , accompanied by an increase in surface membrane K⁺ permeability. In this study, electrophysiological measurement of K⁺ current was combined with⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux measurements to characterize the K⁺ flux pathway in BAECs. Bradykinin- and Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents were identified and shown to be blocked by the alkylammonium compound, tetrabutylammonium chloride and by the scorpion toxin,noxiustoxin, but not by apamin or tetraethylammonium chloride. Whole-cell and single-channel current analysis suggest that the threshold for Ca²⁺ activation is in the range of 10 to 100nm [Ca²⁺] _i . The whole-cell current measurement show voltage sensitivity only at the membrane potentials more positive than 0 mV where significant current decay occurs during a sustained depolarizing pulse. Another K⁺ current present in control conditions, an inwardly rectifying K⁺ current, was blocked by Ba²⁺ and was not affected bynoxiustoxin or tetrabutylammonium chloride. Efflux of⁸⁶Rb^– from BAEC monolayers was stimulated by both bradykinin and ionomycin. Stimulated efflux was blocked by tetrabutyl- and tetrapentyl-ammonium chloride and bynoxiustoxin, but not by apamin or furosemide. Thus,⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux stimulated by bradykinin and ionomycin has the same pharmacological sensitivity as the bradykinin- and Ca²⁺-activated membrane currents. The results confirm that bradykinin-stimulated⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux occurs via Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. The blocking agents identified may provide a means for interpreting the role of the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current in the response of BAECs to bradykinin.     

Immunocytochemical localization of endothelin in cultured bovine endothelial cells

Summary To investigate the intracellular localization of endothelin in cultured endothelial cells, an immunocytochemical study was carried out by the post-embedding protein A-gold technique with endothelin-specific antiserum. Gold particles were seen on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi cisternae, the Golgi vesicles, small vesicles beneath the cell membrane, and the lysosomes. By contrast, no secretory granules were observed. These results suggest that endothelin is secreted by a constitutive pathway and that the lysosome may play an important role in regulating the biological activity of endothelin.     

Glycosaminoglycans synthesized by cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells

Bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) cells seeded and grown on plastic dishes were labeled with 35S-sulfate or 3H-glucosamine for 48 h at various phases of growth of the cultures. Newly synthesized proteoglycans were isolated from the culture medium and from the extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by the BCE cells, and the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) component of the proteoglycans was analyzed. Cells actively proliferating on plastic surfaces secreted an ECM that contained heparan sulfate as the major 35S-labeled GAG (86%) and dermatan sulfate as a minor component (13%). Upon reaching confluence, the BCE cells incorporated 35S-labeled chondroitin sulfate (20%), as well as heparan sulfate (66%) and dermatan sulfate (14%), into the EC. Seven-day postconfluent cells incorporated newly synthesized heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate into the matrix in approximately equal proportions. Dermatan sulfate was the main 35S-labeled GAG (60-65%) in the medium of both confluent and postconfluent cultures. 35S-Labeled chondroitin sulfate (20-25%) and heparan sulfate (15%) were also secreted into the culture medium. The type of GAG incorporated into newly synthesized ECM was affected when BCE cells were seeded onto ECM-coated dishes instead of plastic. BCE cells actively proliferating on ECM-coated dishes incorporated newly synthesized heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate into the ECM in a ratio that was very similar to the ratio of these GAGs in the underlying ECM. Addition of mitogens such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to the culture medium altered the type of GAG synthesized and incorporated into the ECM by BCE cells seeded onto ECM-coated dishes if the cells were actively growing, but had no effect on postconfluent cultures.     

Different phenotyes of cultured microvessel endothelial cells obtained from bovine corpus luteum

Summary Morphological heterogeneity has not been documented for cultured endothelial cells isolated from the microvascular bed of any organ. As the corpus luteum depends on a rich microvascularization, endothelial cells were dislodged from developing corpora lutea by mechanical dissection followed either by collagenase digestion or by no digestion. Cell separation was carried out by Percoll density centrifugation. Although the yield of intact cells was higher with collagenase treatment than without, successful endothelial cell cultures were only established when cells remained untreated. Viewed by light microscopy after an average lag phase of 10 days, five different phenotypes of endothelial cells were found under similar simple culture conditions: isomorphic epithelioid, polymorphic epithelioid, spindle-shaped, round, and phase-dense phenotypes. Monolayers appeared within 2–4 weeks. After an additional period of 2–4 weeks, tubular forms with a specific pattern were noted for types 1–3, the so-called pseudotubular forms for type 4, and none for type 5. Cell types differed in their cytochemical and immunocytochemical responses. Examined by SEM, type 1 displayed a more conspicuous surface anatomy than type 2. Types 3–5 demonstrated striking cell processes that were characteristic of each type. Tubular forms of types 1 and 2 showed cell borders and a marked increase in surface specializations, whereas tubular forms of type 3 lacked detectable cell borders in the absence of a striking surface anatomy. Pseudotubular forms of type 4 developed no particular spatial organization. Thus, for the first time, morphological evidence is provided that different endothelial cell types are obtained from diverse segments of the microvascular bed.     

Prostacyclin synthesis by endothelial cells from human umbilical veins: effect of cumulative population doublings

There is a wide range of reported values for prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis by cultured endothelial cells from human umbilical veins (HUVE). Part of this variation may be due to differences in isolation and culture conditions, but part may be due to previously unstudied variation in the number of population doublings (PDs) which the cells have undergone in vitro. Attention is now shifting to arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism by cells from adult human vessels and these cells may require increased PDs to obtain confluent cultures for testing. Therefore, we have examined the effect of number of cell population doublings as well as number of subcultivations on PGI2 synthesis using HUVE as a model system. Primary and first subcultivation cultures inoculated at high density, so that PDs at confluence were less than 4, synthesized 10 times as much PGI2 as the same isolates inoculated at low density with PDs greater than 4. Isolates inoculated and subcultivated so that the PDs at confluence after the fourth subcultivation were less than 6, showed 50% less PGI2 synthesis between the primary and first subcultivation and between the first and second subcultivations. Isolates with less than 4 PDs after the fourth subcultivation were carried further to determine the effect of extensive subcultivation. Four of six isolates showed a sudden increase in PGI2 synthesis which occurred between subcultivations 5 and 12 (PDs 4-6). These results demonstrate that AA metabolism is markedly affected by growth in culture and serial subcultivation.     

Ethanolamine and choline transport in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

The transport of the polar head groups, ethanolamine and choline, was examined in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Both ethanolamine and choline are taken up by high- and low-affinity systems. The K'm and V'max for the Na+-dependent, high-affinity ethanolamine and choline transport system are 3.0 and 3.0 microM and 5.4 and 7.3 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Ethanolamine and choline competitively influence one another's transport as the presence of 50 microM ethanolamine increases the K'm but not the V'max of choline uptake. Likewise, 50 microM choline increases the K'm but not the V'max of ethanolamine transport. The concentration of ethanolamine that inhibits maximal velocity of 5 microM choline by 50% is 9.7 microM, while 12 microM choline inhibits 5 microM ethanolamine maximal velocity by 50%. Uptake of both head groups is only partially Na+-dependent and is inhibited similarly by 2-methylethanolamine and 2,2-dimethylethanolamine at all concentrations examined. Hemicholinium-3, a classic inhibitor of high-affinity, Na+-dependent choline transport, reduces both ethanolamine and choline accumulation in a concentration-dependent fashion, but has a greater effect on choline transport at higher concentrations. The major portion of these data is consistent with our hypothesis that the uptake of physiological concentrations of ethanolamine and choline may occur through the same transport system. However, the results of the effect of hemicholinium-3 and the extent of Na+-dependency of choline and ethanolamine uptake could be interpreted as meaning that separate transport systems for choline and ethanolamine exist which cross react or that a single transport system exists which has separate active sites for the two compounds.     

Plasminogen activator activity by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

This communication reports the observations that bovine aortic endothelial cells (EC) in culture during their log phase of growth secrete plasminogen activator. Hydrocortisone, dibutyryl cAMP, theophylline, colchicine and cycloheximide, dependent upon concentration, inhibit plasminogen activator activity. Several substances associated with inflammation and thrombosis, such as thrombin, serotonin,catecholomines, histamine, vasopressin, endotoxin, and indomethacin, at the concentrations tested, did not significantly alter plasminogen activator activity when compared with controls.     

Generation of lipid neutrophil chemoattractant by irradiated bovine aortic endothelial cells

Radiation injury to blood vessels is associated with an acute inflammatory process. We investigated the capacity of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) to produce chemotactic factors after radiation injury. BAEC in serum-free media were irradiated with a cobalt-60 Gammacell 220 and the cell supernatants were assayed for chemotactic activity for human neutrophils in a Boyden chamber. There was a rapid release of chemotactic activity into the BAEC supernatants which was dependent both on the dose of radiation (5 to 40 Gy) and the time between irradiation and sample collection. In contrast, isolation of BAEC lysates by freeze-thawing was not associated with the presence of similar chemotactic activity. The chemotactic activity released from the irradiated BAEC was not destroyed by boiling nor by treatment with trypsin. The release of the chemotactic activity was, however, inhibited by the addition of a lipoxygenase inhibitor but not by the addition of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor before the irradiation. The chemotactic activity was recovered from the cell supernatants in the lipid phase after extraction with chloroform/methanol. Furthermore, the chloroform/methanol extracts co-eluted with authentic leukotriene B4 when the BAEC were prelabeled with [14C] arachidonic acid. However, we were unable to detect endogenous leukotriene B4 with RIA. Instead, the only detectable endogenous lipid present in the supernatants was 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid which is derived from linoleic acid via the lipoxygenase pathway. 13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, however, had no chemotactic activity. These findings suggest that endothelial cells rapidly release a chemotactic agent after irradiation, the release of which is associated with a lipoxygenase pathway. The release of this chemotactic activity may account in part for the acute inflammatory response that is observed after ionizing irradiation.     

Cell surface-associated and released proteolytic activities of bovine aorta endothelial cells

We have demonstrated cell surface-associated and released proteolytic activity on bovine aorta endothelial cells, representing normal cells with regulated invasive properties. To demonstrate these proteolytic activities on viable cells grown in monolayer cultures, a new method was developed. The method consists of rolling modified plastic beads carrying covalently-linked [125I]-labeled casein in contact with the cell surfaces or adjacent to the cell monolayers without actual contact. The rate of radioactive peptide release is proportional to the proteolytic activity. Released proteases are detected when no contact occurs between the substrate and the cells. When the bead-substrate complex is rolled over the surface of endothelial cells, a significant increase in released labeled peptides is observed which represents a cell surface-associated proteolytic activity. These activities may be relevant to the endothelial cell's invasive capacity and appear to be similar to the neutral proteolytic activity of transformed cells.     

Phosphoramidon-sensitive endothelin-converting enzyme in the cytosol of cultured bovine endothelial cells

Neutral metalloproteases with endothelin-1 (ET-1) converting activity were detected in membranous and cytosolic fractions of cultured endothelial cells (EC) from bovine carotid artery in a ratio of 5:1, respectively. The cytosolic enzyme specifically and quantitatively converts big ET-1 to ET-1 (Km = 10.7 microM), but does not convert big ET-3. Like the membranous enzyme, the cytosolic enzyme is only active at pH 6.5-7.5, and is competitively inhibited by phosphoramidon (Ki = 0.79 microM). The apparent molecular weight of the cytosolic enzyme is about 540 kD, which is 5-6 times greater than that of the membranous enzyme. These results indicate the presence of two types of phosphoramidon-sensitive neutral ET-converting enzyme in vascular EC.