The glycan profile of endothelial cells in the present of tumor-conditioned medium and potential roles of β-1,6-GlcNAc branching on HUVEC conformation

Endothelium plays a vital role in the logistics of the immune system, as well as the maintenance of the homeostasis. The major objective of this study is to unravel the relationship between expression changes of carbohydrate structures and the dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated with tumor-conditioned medium (TCM), which is involved in tumor cell extravasation. Using flow cytometry (FCM) assay, the expression profiles of a selected group of 9 carbohydrate structures have been determined in HUVEC under control conditions and TCM-treated conditions, six of which increased significantly in expression after induction. Particularly, the expression level of β-1,6-GlcNAc branching glycan was extremely higher after the stimulation. In parallel, the conformation change of HUVEC monolayer has been detected with inverted phase contrast microscopy and confocal microscopy. Under TCM stimulation, the actin cytoskeleton underwent rearrangement and formed abundant stress fiber within cells; therefore cell contraction was induced, which resulted in paracellular gap formation and barrier dysfunction. We furthered our study to investigate the mechanism underlying the conformation change of HUVEC. The results demonstrated that TCM induced the increase in β-1,6-GlcNAc branching expression of PECAM-1, accompanied by the tyrosine phosphorylation of PECAM-1. The downstream effector RhoA was activated in consequence of the activation of PECAM-1. In conclusion, our results strongly suggested that the carbohydrate composition of endothelial cell surface is very important for the cells to exert their physiological effects correlated with cancer extravasation.     

Regulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) is an adherence molecule that is induced on endothelial cells by cytokine stimulation and can mediate binding of lymphocytes or tumor cells to endothelium. Because these interactions often occur at the level of the microvasculature, we have examined the regulation of expression of VCAM-1 in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) and compared it to the regulation of VCAM-1 in large vessel human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Both cell populations were judged pure as assessed by expression of von Willebrand factor and uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein. Expression of VCAM-1 was not detectable on either unstimulated HDMEC or HUVEC when assessed by ELISA or flow cytometry. Stimulation of either HDMEC or HUVEC with TNF-alpha resulted in a time- and dose-dependent induction of VCAM-1. However, although TNF-alpha-induced cell surface and mRNA expression of VCAM-1 in HDMEC was transient, peaking after 16 h of stimulation, TNF stimulation led to persistently elevated cell surface expression of VCAM-1 on HUVEC. IL-1 alpha also induced cell surface expression of VCAM-1 on HUVEC in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but stimulation of HDMEC with IL-1 alpha at doses up to 1000 U/ml failed to induce significant cell surface expression. However, IL-1 alpha induced time- and dose-dependent increases in ICAM-1 on HDMEC. Similarly, IL-4 induced VCAM-1 expression and augmented TNF-alpha-induced expression on HUVEC but did not affect VCAM-1 expression on HDMEC. Binding of Ramos cells to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cell monolayers correlated with VCAM-1 induction. Increased binding was seen after stimulation of HDMEC with TNF-alpha, which was blocked by anti-VCAM-1 mAb, but no increases in binding were noted after stimulation of HDMEC monolayers with IL-1 alpha. These data provide additional evidence for the existence of endothelial cell heterogeneity and differences in cell adhesion molecule regulation on endothelial cells derived from different vascular beds.     

Identification of glycan structure alterations on cell membrane proteins in desoxyepothilone B resistant leukemia cells

Resistance to tubulin-binding agents used in cancer is often multifactorial and can include changes in drug accumulation and modified expression of tubulin isotypes. Glycans on cell membrane proteins play important roles in many cellular processes such as recognition and apoptosis, and this study investigated whether changes to the glycan structures on cell membrane proteins occur when cells become resistant to drugs. Specifically, we investigated the alteration of glycan structures on the cell membrane proteins of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CEM) cells that were selected for resistance to desoxyepothilone B (CEM/dEpoB). The glycan profile of the cell membrane glycoproteins was obtained by sequential release of N- and O-glycans from cell membrane fraction dotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane with PNGase F and β-elimination respectively. The released glycan alditols were analyzed by liquid chromatography (graphitized carbon)-electrospray ionization tandem MS. The major N-glycan on CEM cell was the core fucosylated α2-6 monosialo-biantennary structure. Resistant CEM/dEpoB cells had a significant decrease of α2-6 linked sialic acid on N-glycans. The lower α2-6 sialylation was caused by a decrease in activity of β-galactoside α2-6 sialyltransferase (ST6Gal), and decreased expression of the mRNA. It is clear that the membrane glycosylation of leukemia cells changes during acquired resistance to dEpoB drugs and that this change occurs globally on all cell membrane glycoproteins. This is the first identification of a specific glycan modification on the surface of drug resistant cells and the mechanism of this downstream effect on microtubule targeting drugs may offer a route to new interventions to overcome drug resistance.     

Decline of surface MHC I by adenoviral gene transfer of anti-MHC I intrabodies in human endothelial cells-new perspectives for the generation of universal donor cells for tissue transplantation

BACKGROUND: The seeding of small-calibre vascular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts with endothelial cells provides an increase in biocompatibility of the graft surface. The harvest and ex vivo culture of autologous endothelial cells is highly delicate. Allogeneic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) could be a potential cell source-however, rejection might occur due to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I mismatches. Lowering cell surface MHC I expression on endothelial cells by gene transfer of an anti-MHC I intrabody might reduce graft failure. The intrabody consists of a single-chain variable fragment (sFv) of an anti-MHC I antibody, carrying a terminal KDEL sequence to retain the molecule together with the MHC I inside the endoplasmic reticulum. METHODS: Adenoviral gene transfer was used to express the intrabody in HUVEC. The MHC I surface expression was measured 48 h after transduction by flow cytometry. Functional effects of the intrabody expression were analyzed in a calcein release cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS: A transduction efficiency of more than 95% with EGFP-adenovirus indicates a sufficient gene transfer into HUVEC. Intrabody-adenovirus-transduced HUVEC show a massive reduction in MHC I surface expression creating almost a complete 'knockout' phenotype. Stimulation with inflammatory cytokines could not overcome this effect. The cell lysis of anti-MHC I intrabody-expressing HUVEC in a cytotoxicity assay is reduced when compared with the level of the MHC mismatched control. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that HUVEC with reduced levels of MHC I might be used as universal donor cells for the seeding of vascular grafts.     

Glycosylation of serum ribonuclease 1 indicates a major endothelial origin and reveals an increase in core fucosylation in pancreatic cancer

Human pancreatic ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1) is a glycoprotein expressed mainly by the pancreas and also found in endothelial cells. The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PaC) remains difficult and therefore the search for sensitive and specific markers is required. Previous studies showed that RNase 1 from human healthy pancreas contained only neutral glycans, whereas RNase 1 from PaC cell lines contained sialylated structures. To determine whether these glycan tumor cell-associated changes were also characteristic of serum RNase 1 and could be used as a marker of PaC, we have analyzed the glycosylation of serum RNase 1. The origin of serum RNase 1 was also investigated. Serum RNase 1 from two PaC patients and two controls was purified and the glycans analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based sequencing and mass spectrometry. Although normal and tumor serum RNase 1 contained the same glycan structures, there was an increase of 40% in core fucosylation in the main sialylated biantennary glycans in the PaC serum RNase 1. This change in proportion would be indicative of a subset of tumor-associated glycoforms of RNase 1, which may provide a biomarker for PaC. Two-dimensional electrophoresis of the RNase 1 from several endothelial cell lines, EA.hy926, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human mammary microvessel endothelial cells (HuMMEC), and human lung microvessel endothelial cells (HuLEC), showed basically the same pattern and was also very similar to that of serum RNase 1. RNase 1 from EA.hy926 was then purified and presented a glycosylation profile very similar to that from serum RNase 1, suggesting that endothelial cells are the main source of this enzyme.     

FGF-1-dependent proliferative and migratory responses are impaired in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells and correlate with the inability to signal tyrosine phosphorylation of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 substrates

Senescent cells do not proliferate in response to exogenous growth factors, yet the number and affinity of growth factor receptors on the cell surface appear to be similar to presenescent cell populations. To determine whether a defect in receptor signaling exists, we analyzed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) since HUVEC growth is absolutely dependent upon the presence of FGF. We report that in both presenescent and senescent HUVEC populations, FGF-1 induces the expression of cell cycle-specific genes, suggesting that functional FGF receptor (FGFR) may exist on the surface of these cells. However, the tyrosine phosphorylation of FGFR-1 substrates, Src and cortactin, is impaired in senescent HUVEC, and only the presenescent cell populations exhibit a FGF-1-dependent Src tyrosine kinase activity. Moreover, we demonstrate that senescent HUVEC are unable to migrate in response to FGF-1, and these data correlate with an altered organization of focal adhesion sites. These data suggest that the induction of gene expression is insufficient to promote a proliferative or migratory phenotype in senescent HUVEC and that the attenuation of the FGFR-1 signal transduction pathway may be involved in the inability of senescent HUVEC to proliferate and/or migrate.     

Acidosis Activation of the Proton-Sensing GPR4 Receptor Stimulates Vascular Endothelial Cell Inflammatory Responses Revealed by Transcriptome Analysis

Acidic tissue microenvironment commonly exists in inflammatory diseases, tumors, ischemic organs, sickle cell disease, and many other pathological conditions due to hypoxia, glycolytic cell metabolism and deficient blood perfusion. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to the acidic microenvironment are not well understood. GPR4 is a proton-sensing receptor expressed in endothelial cells and other cell types. The receptor is fully activated by acidic extracellular pH but exhibits lesser activity at the physiological pH 7.4 and minimal activity at more alkaline pH. To delineate the function and signaling pathways of GPR4 activation by acidosis in endothelial cells, we compared the global gene expression of the acidosis response in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with varying level of GPR4. The results demonstrated that acidosis activation of GPR4 in HUVEC substantially increased the expression of a number of inflammatory genes such as chemokines, cytokines, adhesion molecules, NF-κB pathway genes, and prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2 (PTGS2 or COX-2) and stress response genes such as ATF3 and DDIT3 (CHOP). Similar GPR4-mediated acidosis induction of the inflammatory genes was also noted in other types of endothelial cells including human lung microvascular endothelial cells and pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Further analyses indicated that the NF-κB pathway was important for the acidosis/GPR4-induced inflammatory gene expression. Moreover, acidosis activation of GPR4 increased the adhesion of HUVEC to U937 monocytic cells under a flow condition. Importantly, treatment with a recently identified GPR4 antagonist significantly reduced the acidosis/GPR4-mediated endothelial cell inflammatory response. Taken together, these results show that activation of GPR4 by acidosis stimulates the expression of a wide range of inflammatory genes in endothelial cells. Such inflammatory response can be suppressed by GPR4 small molecule inhibitors and hold potential therapeutic value.     

Endothelial Galectin-1 Binds to Specific Glycans on Nipah Virus Fusion Protein and Inhibits Maturation,Mobility, and Function to Block Syncytia Formation

Nipah virus targets human endothelial cells via NiV-F and NiV-G envelope glycoproteins, resulting in endothelial syncytia formation and vascular compromise. Endothelial cells respond to viral infection by releasing innate immune effectors, including galectins, which are secreted proteins that bind to specific glycan ligands on cell surface glycoproteins. We demonstrate that galectin-1 reduces NiV-F mediated fusion of endothelial cells, and that endogenous galectin-1 in endothelial cells is sufficient to inhibit syncytia formation. Galectin-1 regulates NiV-F mediated cell fusion at three distinct points, including retarding maturation of nascent NiV-F, reducing NiV-F lateral mobility on the plasma membrane, and directly inhibiting the conformational change in NiV-F required for triggering fusion. Characterization of the NiV-F N-glycome showed that the critical site for galectin-1 inhibition is rich in glycan structures known to bind galectin-1. These studies identify a unique set of mechanisms for regulating pathophysiology of NiV infection at the level of the target cell.     

Glioblastoma cells block radiation-induced programmed cell death of endothelial cells

We demonstrate that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown in co-culture (CC) with U87 glioblastoma cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP-U87) exhibit resistance to radiation-mediated apoptosis. cDNA macroarray analysis reveals increases in the accumulation of RNAs for HUVEC genes encoding cell adhesion molecules, growth factor-related proteins, and cell cycle regulatory/DNA repair proteins. An increase in protein expression of integrin alphav, integrin beta1, MAPK(p42), Rad51, DNA-PK(CS), and ataxia telangiectasia gene (ATM) was detected in HUVEC grown in CC with GFP-U87 cells compared with HUVEC grown in mono-culture. Treatment with anti-VEGF antibody decreases the expression of integrin alphav, integrin beta1, DNA-PK(CS) and ATM with a corresponding increase in ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis. These data support the concept that endothelial cells growing in the tumor microenvironment may develop resistance to cytotoxic therapies due to the up-regulation by tumor cells of endothelial cells genes associated with survival.     

Pro-inflammatory effect of TWEAK/Fn14 interaction on human umbilical vein endothelial cells

TWEAK, a member of the TNF family, induces cell death in some tumor cell lines, but also induces proliferation of endothelial cells and angiogenesis. Recently, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) has been identified to be a TWEAK receptor, which may be responsible for the proliferation of endothelial cells and angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the pro-inflammatory effect of TWEAK on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We demonstrated that TWEAK could not only induce the proliferation and migration but also upregulate the cell surface expression of adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 and E-selectin, and induce the secretion of chemokines such as IL-8 and MCP-1 in HUVEC. Moreover, by using an anti-Fn14 mAb that blocks the TWEAK/Fn14 interaction, we demonstrated that Fn14 was constitutively expressed on HUVEC and totally mediated the biological effects of TWEAK on HUVEC. These results indicated that TWEAK could induce pro-inflammatory reactions via Fn14 on HUVEC.     

Endogenous prostaglandin D(2) synthesis decreases vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

We examined the role of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) in the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM)-1 following interleukin-1beta (IL-1) stimulation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) transfected with lipocaline-type PGD(2) synthase (L-PGDS) genes. HUVEC were isolated from human umbilical vein and incubated with 20 U/ml IL-1 and various concentrations of authentic PGD(2). The isolated HUVEC were also transfected with L-PGDS genes by electroporation. The L-PGDS-transfected HUVEC were used to investigate the role of endogenous PGD(2) in IL-1-stimulated VCAM-1 biosynthesis. We also used an anti-PGD(2) antibody to examine whether an intracrine mechanism was involved in VCAM-1 production. PGD(2) and VCAM-1 levels were determined by radio- and cell surface enzyme-immunoassay, respectively. VCAM-1 mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. IL-1-stimulated VCAM-1 expression by HUVEC was dose-dependently inhibited by authentic PGD(2). L-PGDS gene-transfected HUVEC produced more PGD(2) than HUVEC transfected with the reporter gene alone. IL-1 induced increases in VCAM-1 expression in HUVEC transfected with reporter genes alone. However, this effect was significantly attenuated in the case of IL-1 stimulation of HUVEC transfected with L-PGDS genes, and accompanied by an apparent suppression of VCAM-1 mRNA expression. Neutralization of extracellular PGD(2) by anti-PGD(2)-specific antibody influenced neither VCAM-1 mRNA expression nor VCAM-1 biosynthesis. In conclusion, HUVEC transfected with L-PGDS genes showed increased PGD(2) synthesis. This increase was associated with attenuation of both VCAM-1 expression and VCAM-1 mRNA expression. The results suggest that endogenous PGD(2) decreases VCAM-1 expression and VCAM-1 mRNA expression, probably through an intracrine mechanism.     

Effect of interleukin-8 on production of tumor-associated substances and autocrine growth of human liver and pancreatic cancer cells

We have previously reported that human liver cancer cell lines produce interleukin-8 (IL-8) at high levels. Those tumor cells appeared to express two kinds of IL-8 receptor on their surface. In order to analyze the role of IL-8 on the biological characteristics of those tumor cells, we suppressed IL-8 production from human liver (HuH-7 and HuCC-T1) and pancreatic cancer cell lines (HuP-T4) by treatment with IL-8 antisense oligonucleotides. Suppression of IL-8 production resulted not only in inhibition of cell growth, but also in an increase in the concentrations of some tumor-associated substances such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in the medium. These data indicate that IL-8 produced by human liver and pancreatic tumors may act as an autocrine growth factor and may control the production of some tumor-associated substances. Furthermore, surface expression of sialyl-Lewis^a, which is a ligand for ELAM-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), HuCC-T1 and HuP-T4 cells was decreased and the attachment of these tumor cells to HUVEC was inhibited by treatment with IL-8 antisense oligonucleotide. Since the soluble form of CA19-9 (sialyl-Lewis^a) was shown to inhibit the tumor cell binding to HUVEC, the decrease in release of CA19-9 into the medium and increase in the expression of sialyl-Lewis^a on the cell surface may suggest that IL-8 production from the tumor cells enhances metastatic potential by augmenting the binding activity of the tumor cells to HUVEC. These data demonstrate that a cytokine produced by tumor cells may function as an autocrine growth factor and affect tumor cell dissemination. Received: 4 February 1998 / Accepted: 6 May 1998     

大鼠HO-1表达质粒构建、活力检测及抗HUVEC凋亡的作用研究

异种移植排斥反应的主要特征为内皮细胞发生Ⅱ型激活．引起黏附分子、细胞因子和前促凝分子等基因高表达．造成血管收缩、白细胞黏附、激活、聚集和血栓形成．最终导致内皮细胞凋亡。保护基因HO-1通过抑制前炎症反应及免疫调抑作用以保护异种移植器官。因此。通过构建含剪切的野生型大鼠HO-1 cDNA的表达型质粒．用DOTAP包裹转入HUVEC中表达。测定表达量及表达产物活性;采用TNF-α诱导细胞凋亡。以及Heme和SnPP分别刺激细胞。诱导和抑制细胞内HO-1表达量．流式细胞仪测定细胞凋亡率,明确HO一1的抗细胞凋亡作用。结果显示HO-1在HUVEC中高度表达。活力为对照组5倍;TNF-α诱导细胞凋亡。但Heme处理后细胞凋亡率下降至20％以下。而SnPP处理后细胞凋亡率显著上升,最高达到95％以上。并且HO-1基因表达抑制时细胞凋亡率是诱导时的5—20倍。本实验表明Heme处理后HO-1表达上调。具有显著抗细胞凋亡作用。细胞凋亡率与HO-1表达量呈负相关,提示HO-1通过抑制细胞凋亡。对细胞有保护作用。     

Listeriolysin O-dependent activation of endothelial cells during infection with Listeria monocytogenes: activation of NF-kappa B and upregulation of adhesion molecules and chemokines

The facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is an invasive pathogen that crosses the vascular endothelium and disseminates to the placenta and the central nervous system. Its interaction with endothelial cells is crucial for the pathogenesis of listeriosis. By infecting in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with L. monocytogenes, we found that wild-type bacteria induced the expression of the adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and E-selectin), chemokine secretion (IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and NF-kappa B nuclear translocation. The activation of HUVEC required viable bacteria and was abolished in prfA-deficient mutants of L. monocytogenes, suggesting that virulence genes are associated with endothelial cell activation. Using a genetic approach with mutants of virulence genes, we found that listeriolysin O (LLO)-deficient mutants inactivated in the hly gene did not induce HUVEC activation, as opposed to mutants inactivated in the other virulence genes. Adhesion molecule expression, chemokine secretion and NF-kappa B activation were fully restored by a strain of Listeria innocua transformed with the hly gene encoding LLO. The relevance in vivo of endothelial cell activation for listerial pathogenesis was investigated in transgenic mice carrying an NF-kappa B-responsive lacZ reporter gene. NF-kappa B activation was visualized by a strong lacZ expression in endothelial cells of capillaries of mice infected with a virulent haemolytic strain, but was not seen in those infected with a non-haemolytic isogenic mutant. Direct evidence that LLO is involved in NF-kappa B activation in transgenic mice was provided by injecting intravenously purified LLO, thus inducing stimulation of NF-kappa B in endothelial cells of blood capillaries. Our results demonstrate that functional listeriolysin O secreted by bacteria contributes as a potent inflammatory stimulus to inducing endothelial cell activation during the infectious process.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in human umbilical vein endothelial cells during primary culture

The adaptive response of endothelial cells to stress may lead to the upregulation of nitric oxide (NO) production. Herein, we report inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction in primary cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The enzyme expression was earlier observed in 12-h cultures, reaching maximal levels after 3 days and decreasing when cells become confluent. The time course of NO production by HUVEC paralleled iNOS expression during the whole culture period, indicating that enzyme was functionally active. Conversely, iNOS induction could not be further detected in HUVEC subcultures passed once from cells presenting maximal levels of iNOS expression in the primary culture. Induction of iNOS in HUVEC was not related to lipopolysaccharide contamination, since the enzyme expression was not affected in the presence of polymyxin B added to primary cultures. Further analysis showed that aminoguanidine, a specific iNOS inhibitor, did not affect cell proliferation, suggesting that the NO produced by HUVEC may not be directly related to cell growth. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 expression was upregulated during cell confluence, in contrast to the decrease of iNOS expression and activity. The data suggest that iNOS expression may be a molecular mechanism mediating the adaptive response of endothelial cells to culture environment.     

Influence of sustained mechanical stress on Egr-1 mRNA expression in cultured human endothelial cells

Restenosis after initially successful balloon angioplasty of coronary artery stenosis remains a major problem in clinical cardiology. Previous studies have identified pathogenetic factors which trigger cell proliferation and vascular remodeling ultimately leading to restenosis. Since there is evidence that endothelial cells adjacent to the angioplasty wound area synthesize factors which may initiate this process, we investigated the effects of mechanical stimulation on endothelial gene expression in vitro and focussed on the influence of sustained mechanical stress on expression of immediate early genes which have previously been shown to be induced in the vascular wall in vivo. Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and the human endothelial cell line EA.hy 926 were plated on collagen-coated silicone membranes and subjected to constant longitudinal stress of approximately 20% for 10 min to 6 h. Total RNA was isolated and the expression of the immediate early genes c-Fos and Egr-1 was studied by Northern blot analysis. We found a rapid upregulation c-Fos and Egr-1 mRNA which started at 10 min and reached its maxima at 30 min. HUVEC lost most of their stretch response after the third passage whereas immediate early gene expression was constantly in EA.hy 926 cells. Using specific inhibitors we investigated the contribution of several signal transduction pathways to stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression. We found significant suppression of stretch-induced Egr-1 mRNA expression by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition (p < 0.05) and by calcium depletion (EA.hy926, p < 0. 05; HUVEC, p = 0.063). No effect on stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression was detected by inhibition of protein kinase A, blockade of stretch-activated cation channels or inhibition of microtubule synthesis. We conclude that sustained mechanical strain induces Egr-1 mRNA expression by PKC- and calcium-dependent mechanisms.     

Induction of cell adhesion molecules, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, in a co-culture of human endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, we studied the surface expression of cell adhesion molecules, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) co-cultured with human aortic intimal smooth muscle cells (SMC). It was found that inactivated HUVEC constitutively expressed only ICAM-1. After 3-4 h of co-culturing with SMC in the Transwell system we observed the appearance of E-selectin and VCAM-1, and the increase of ICAM-1 content on the cell surface. In all the cases, the maximum expression of these molecules (85-100% of positively stained cells) was detected within 18-24 h after co-culturing. Similar effect was exerted by SMC-conditioned culture medium, whose action well compared with that of a direct addition of interleukin-1 to EC at a concentration of 5-10 u/ml. The obtained data suggest that the cytokines secreted by SMC may participate in the regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression, and influence cell accumulation in sites of inflammation, immune disorders, etc.     

IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha induce the expression and synthesis of Leu 13 antigen by cultured human endothelial cells

Leu 13 is a 16 kDa human lymphocyte surface Ag and monoclonal anti-Leu 13 induces T cell aggregation and alters T cell proliferation. In previous studies using anti-Leu 13, Leu 13 Ag has been detected on endothelial cells (EC) of arteries, capillaries, and veins in human tissue sections. In contrast, in this study using the same antibody, Leu 13 Ag could not be detected on unstimulated cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by indirect immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase staining, or immunoisolation of radiolabeled Ag from labeled endothelial cells. However, when HUVEC were cultured with IFN-gamma, Leu 13 Ag was demonstrable using all three detection techniques. Leu 13 Ag was detectable after 24 h of incubation with IFN-gamma (30 U/ml) and was maximally expressed after 72 h. After removal of IFN-gamma, Leu 13 Ag progressively declined back to basal levels by 4 days. Induction of Leu 13 Ag expression by IFN-gamma was suppressed by cycloheximide. Although Leu 13 Ag expression was also induced by IFN-alpha, PMA, and IL-1 were inactive. When HUVEC were incubated with IFN-gamma, surface-labeled with 125I, and then solubilized, anti-Leu 13 immunoisolated a 16-kDa radioactive band that comigrated with Leu 13 immunoisolated from T cells. Similar results were obtained using HUVEC that were metabolically labeled with 35S-methionine. These results demonstrate that HUVEC stimulated with IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha express Leu 13 Ag on their surface and suggest that exposure of EC to IFN may induce EC to develop new functional properties at sites of inflammatory and immune reactions.