Models Of Granulocyte-Mediated Endothelial Injury In Vitro
To determine the role of neutrophil (PMN) induced vascular injury during inflammation an in vitro model of endothelial damage was investigated. Injury to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) labeled with 51Cr or 14c sodium arachidonate was monitored by specific release of these labels or their products. Several agents were capable of triggering PMN to induce significant EC injury: these include activated serum complement (C') opsonized particles, serotonin , phorbol myristate acetate, and the lipid A moiety of endotoxin. PMN must adhere closely to the EC for effective cytotoxicity, since agents which retard PMN adherence (cytochalasin B, methyl prednisolone) inhibit 51Cr release.Lyscsorcal proteases did not mediate PMN induced endothelial injury since there was no correlation between release and injury, and soluble stimuli which did not release lysosomal contents induced injury. Free radical scavengers such as SOD/catalase, and a-tocopherol significantly reduced PMN mediated endothelial injury implying that PMN generated reactive oxygen species were responsible for this damage.To further study PMN mediated endothelial injury, other inflammatory agents were also utilized. C' activated PMN’s exposed to Ibuprofen (I) (50 μg/ml) but not Aspirin (ASA) (200 μg/ml) induced no EC injury (51cr releasey Furthermore, it was shown that I inhibits O- 2 production, blocks release of PMN lysozyme and glucuronidase, and inhibits aggregation of C' stimulated PMN’s. ASA at doses of 500 μg/ml (clinically toxic), failed to inhibit these in vitro activities. This data suggests that I’s anti-inflammatory affect may be expressed through inhibition of PMN functions. Since I and ASA both inhibit cyclooxygenase, but only I modulated PMN induced endothelial injury, these agents may provide useful probes to elucidate PMN-endothelial interactions in vivo.