Sitosterol-stimulative production of plasminogen activator in cultured endothelial cells from bovine carotid artery

First Report of Plant-Derived β-Sitosterol with Antithrombotic, in Vivo Anticoagulant, and Thrombus-Preventing Activities in a Mouse Model

Inhibitors of thrombin, a key enzyme in the blood coagulation cascade, are of great interest because of their selective specificity and effectiveness in anticoagulation therapy against cardiovascular disorders. The natural soybean phytosterol, β-sitosterol (BSS) demonstrated anticoagulant activity by dose-dependent inhibition of thrombin in an uncompetitive manner with a K_i value of 0.267 μM as well as by partial inhibition of thrombin-catalyzed platelet aggregation with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 10.45 ± 2.88 μM against platelet-rich plasma and 9.2 ± 1.2 μM against washed platelets. An in silico study indicated binding of BSS to thrombin, which was experimentally verified by spectrofluorometric and isothermal calorimetric analyses. Under in vitro conditions, BSS demonstrated thrombolytic activity by activating plasminogen, albeit it is devoid of protease (fibrinogenolytic) activity. BSS was noncytotoxic to mammalian cells, nonhemolytic, demonstrated its in vivo anticoagulant activity when administered orally, and inhibited k-carrageen-induced thrombus formation in the tails of mice. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation of BSS may help to prevent thrombosis-associated cardiovascular disorders.

Characterization of chitosan-gelatin scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering

Porous scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering were fabricated by freeze-drying a mixture of chitosan and gelatin (CG) solutions. Different crosslinking agents including glutaraldehyde, 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl-carbodimide hydrochloride (EDC), and genipin were used to crosslink the scaffolds and improve their biostability. The porous structure and mechanical properties were determined for the scaffolds. The proliferation of human fibroblasts in the scaffolds was analyzed. It was found that EDC crosslinked scaffolds had the greatest amount of cells after four days. EDC crosslinked CG scaffolds had tensile modulus in a dry state and compressive modulus in a wet state similar to commercial collagen wound dressing. They also showed appropriate pore size, high water absorption, and good dimensional stability during cell culture. When human fibroblasts were seeded on acellular porcine dermis (APD), acellular human dermis (AHD), and CG scaffolds for 3D cell culture, they were well-distributed in the centre of the CG scaffolds but stayed only on the superficial layer of APD or AHD after seven days. A gelatin-based bioglue was applied to the CG scaffolds where the keratinocytes were seeded to mimic epidermal structure. After 14 days, the bioglue degraded and keratinocytes grew to form monolayers on the scaffolds. This study showed that CG scaffolds crosslinked by EDC and seeded with human fibroblasts could serve as dermal constructs, while the bioglue coating seeded with keratinocytes could serve as an epidermal construct. Such a combination could help regenerate skin with integrated dermal and epidermal layers and a have potential use in tissue-engineered skin.

The biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites from polyurethane and nano silicate platelets

Nanocomposites from a polyether-type waterborne polyurethane (PU) and 0.1 wt % of silicate materials were prepared. The individual silicate materials were natural clays (montmorillonite and mica), their exfoliated clays [nano silicate platelets (NSP) and nano mica platelets], and NSP modified with C18 fatty amine (NSP-S). The physico-chemcical properties and antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites were characterized in vitro. The biostability and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites were evaluated in vivo. The nanocomposites exhibited various surface morphologies with phase separation of hard and soft domains in nanometric scales. The nanocomposite containing NSP (PU-NSP) showed better endothelial cell attachment and gene expression. The better biocompatibility of PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S was evidenced by the lower thickness of foreign body capsules in rat subcutaneous implantation. PU-NSP had the least surface degradation in vivo as demonstrated by the electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This may be associated with the different surface structure. PU-NSP and PU-NSP-S showed strong bacteriostatic effects, which suggested that the nano clay in the polymer matrix may still interact with the microbes.

The effect of laser preexposure on seeding endothelial cells to a biomaterial surface

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the possible effect of low-level laser (LLL) on improving the adhesion of endothelial cells (ECs) to a biomaterial substrate was evaluated.

BACKGROUND DATA

Despite the numerous studies regarding the effects of LLL on biologic systems, the influence of LLL on the binding between cells and materials was rarely investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A low-power He-Ne laser apparatus with a continuous wavelength of 632.8 nm (a maximum power output of 50 mW) was used. The average irradiation energy on cells was 1.18 J/cm(2). Cell morphology and the concentrations of nitric oxide and calcium after laser exposure were measured. Biomedical grade poly(carbonate)urethane (PU) was synthesized and used to prepare microporous vascular grafts. ECs exposed to laser were harvested and seeded on the PU grafts. No further exposure was given.

RESULTS

LLL could change the morphology and increase the matrix secretion of ECs, and such effects persisted when preexposed cells were harvested and seeded to another substrate. The number of ECs attached on the biomaterial substrate was not affected. Preexposed ECs on the PU graft, however, were, on average, more resistant to flushing (i.e., greater cell retention).

CONCLUSION

ECs were pretreated with LLL before being seeded onto the PU biomaterial vascular grafts. The retention of LLL-preexposed ECs on the graft surface was enhanced, but not as significantly as that of ECs preexposed to low-intensity ultrasound.

Antimicrobial activities and cellular responses to natural silicate clays and derivatives modified by cationic alkylamine salts

Nanometer-scale silicate platelet (NSP) materials were previously developed by increasing the interlayer space and exfoliation of layered silicate clays such as montmorillonite and synthetic fluorinated mica by the process of polyamine exfoliation. In this study, the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of these nanometer-scale silicate clays were evaluated. The derivatives of NSP (NSP-S) which were modified by C18-fatty amine salts via ionic exchange association exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in the aqueous state among all clays. The high antibacterial activity, however, was accompanied by elevated cytotoxicity. The variations of cell surface markers (CD29 and CD44) and type I collagen expression of fibroblasts treated with the clays were measured to clarify the mechanism of the silicate-induced cytotoxicity. The signal transduction pathway involved the downregulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which appeared to participate in silicate-induced cytotoxicity. This study helped to understand the antibacterial potential of NSP and the interaction of natural and modified clays with cellular activities.

Determination of stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and stigmastanol in oral dosage forms using high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

A validated and repeatable high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with online evaporative light scattering (ELSD) was developed for the analysis of two sterols, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and a stanol, stigmastanol, found to be common in many herbal formulations and health care supplements. The method is based on the separation of the three marker compounds on a C8 column (Phenomenex Luna, 5 microm, 150 mmx4.6 mm i.d.) using methanol:water (95:5 v/v) as the mobile phase, and a flow rate of 1 ml/min to separate all the marker compounds within 12 min. Cholesterol (50 microg/ml) was used as internal standard and methanol as the extraction solvent. The ELSD response parameters were optimised and the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were calculated to be 2 and 5 microg/ml, respectively, which is more sensitive than obtained by photo diode array detection (5 and 7 microg/ml). Using ELSD, the percentage relative standard deviation (%R.S.D.) of intra-day and inter-day (3 days) precision for each marker was better than 3%, the accuracy data were within 97-103% and the recovery data were found to be within 95-107% for the five commercially available products examined. This method was used to assay commercially available products formulated as oral dosage forms purported to contain African Potato and associated sterols and stanol and proved to be suitable for the routine analysis and quality control of such products.

Antiatherogenic effects of dietary plant sterols are associated with inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production in Apo E-KO mice

Dietary phytosterols significantly reduce atherosclerosis in apo E-deficient mice. Because atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, we investigated whether the antiatherogenic effects of phytosterols are associated with reductions in proinflammatory cytokine production as well as the effect of this diet on global immunocompetence. Apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice were fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet in the presence or absence of 2% dietary phytosterols for 14 wk and then immunized with ovalbumin. The relations between plasma lipid concentrations, atherosclerotic lesions, and cytokine production and proinflammatory stimuli or foreign antigens were characterized. Phytosterol-enriched diets were strongly associated with reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations and atherosclerosis in conjunction with higher anti-inflammatory [interleukin (IL)-10] and lower proinflammatory cytokine [IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] production. In contrast, development of cytokine and chemokine responses to ovalbumin was as strong as or even improved in the phytosterol-treated mice relative to controls. The antiatherogenic effects of dietary phytosterols in apo E-knockout mice were associated with beneficial alterations in both lipoprotein metabolism and inflammatory pathways. Decreased capacity to mount proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses to inflammatory stimuli did not interfere with the global immunocompetence of such mice. Thus, the desirable suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production that was associated with inhibition of atherogenesis did not impair the capacity to mount responses to foreign antigens.

Bioeffect of ultrasound on endothelial cells in vitro

The effects of low-intensity ultrasound (US) on biological systems have been investigated extensively; however, the effects of ultrasound stimulation on endothelial cells were rarely studied. In this study, 1 MHz, pulsed 1:4, and four different spatial-average temporal-peak intensities (0.5, 1.0, 1.6, and 2W/cm2) of ultrasound were used to stimulate endothelial cells for 10 min per day. The results showed that ultrasound (intensity 1.6-2.0W/cm2) treatment after 6 days enhanced the nitric oxide (NO) and Ca2+ release from the endothelial cells but did not promote cell growth. In addition, ultrasound stimulation changed the cellular morphology and orientation, and increased extracellular matrix secretion from endothelial cells.

Ultrasound preexposure improves endothelial cell binding and retention on biomaterial surfaces

In spite of the extensive studies regarding the effects of ultrasound on biological systems, the influence of low-intensity ultrasound on endothelial cells has rarely been investigated. In this work, the effect of ultrasound in improving the binding between endothelial cells and biomaterial substrates was evaluated. Based on the results, low-intensity ultrasound could change the morphology and matrix secretion of endothelial cells, and such effects persisted when preexposed cells were seeded to another substrate. The cells preexposed to ultrasound were spread further on the substrate. The actin stress fibers of ultrasound-preexposed cells on RGD-modified surfaces were especially intense and well oriented. Ultrasound could probably activate cellular integrins and subsequently allow RGD to bind them. A much firmer adhesion of ultrasound-preexposed endothelial cells to the biomaterial surface coated with the RGD-containing protein was demonstrated. Finally, polyurethane small-diameter vascular grafts seeded with ultrasound-preexposed endothelial cells showed enhanced cell retention on graft surfaces upon flushing.

Molecular cloning of human chondromodulin-I, a cartilage-derived growth modulating factor, and its expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Bovine chondromodulin-I (ChM-I) purified from fetal cartilage stimulated the matrix synthesis of chondrocytes, and inhibited the growth of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The human counterpart of this bovine growth regulating factor has not been identified. We report here the cloning of human ChM-I precursor cDNA and its functional expression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We first identified a genomic DNA fragment which encoded the N-terminus of the ChM-I precursor, and then isolated human ChM-I cDNA from chondrosarcoma tissue by PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that mature human ChM-I consists of 120 amino acids. In total, 16 amino acid residues were substituted in the human sequence, compared to the bovine counterpart. Almost of all the substitutions were found in the N-terminal hydrophilic domain. In the C-terminal hydrophobic domain (from Phe42 to Val120), the amino acid sequence was identical except for Tyr90, indicating a functional significance of the domain. Northern blotting and in situ hybridization indicated a specific expression of ChM-I mRNA in cartilage. We also successfully determined the cartilage-specific localization of ChM-I protein, using a specific antibody against recombinant human ChM-I. Multiple transfection of the precursor cDNA into CHO cells enabled us to isolate the mature form of human ChM-I from the culture supernatant. Purified recombinant human ChM-I stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in cultured chondrocytes. In contrast, it inhibited the tube morphogenesis of cultured vascular endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane in vivo.

Ketamine suppresses the production and release of endothelin 1 from cultured bovine endothelial cells

Endothelins play important roles in the regulation of vascular tone. We examined the effect of ketamine on the secretion of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and its precursor, "big" ET-1, from bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BCAECs). After confluent BCAEC cultures were incubated for 24 h with various concentrations of ketamine, the antigen levels for both ET-1 and big ET-1 in the culture medium were determined by using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The precursor protein ET-1 (preproET-1) mRNA levels were assessed by using Northern blotting. On incubation in fresh medium, the BCAECs time-dependently produced and secreted ET-1 into the culture medium. The exposure of BCAECs to ketamine dose-dependently decreased the secretion of ET-1 and big ET-1 in both the serum-free and serum-containing conditions. Approximately 40% inhibition was attained by treatment with 100 microM ketamine for 24 h. The mRNA encoding preproET-1 was expressed much more slowly and to a lesser extent in the presence of ketamine. These results suggest that ketamine suppresses the production and release of big ET-1 and, therefore, the level of mature ET-1 in vascular endothelial cells.

IMPLICATIONS

Endothelins are important in the regulation of vascular tone. The effect of anesthetics on the production of endothelins is unknown. We examined the effect of an anesthetic agent, ketamine, on the production and secretion of endothelin 1 from cultured vascular endothelial cells and found that ketamine suppressed them.

Identification of chondromodulin I as a novel endothelial cell growth inhibitor. Purification and its localization in the avascular zone of epiphyseal cartilage

Cartilage is unique among tissues of mesenchymal origin in that it is resistant to vascular invasion due to an intrinsic angiogenic inhibitor. During endochondral bone formation, however, calcified cartilage formed in the center of the cartilaginous bone rudiment allows vascular invasion, which initiates the replacement of cartilage by bone. The transition of cartilage from the angioresistant to the angiogenic status thus plays a key role in bone formation. However, the molecular basis of this phenotypic transition of cartilage has been obscure. We report here purification of an endothelial cell growth inhibitor from a guanidine extract of bovine epiphyseal cartilage. The N-terminal amino acid sequence indicated that the inhibitor was identical to chondromodulin I (ChM-I), a cartilage-specific growth-modulating factor. Purified ChM-I inhibited DNA synthesis and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells as well as tube morphogenesis in vitro. Expression of ChM-I cDNA in COS7 cells indicated that mature ChM-I molecules were secreted from the cells after post-translational modifications and cleavage from the transmembrane precursor at the predicted processing signal. Recombinant ChM-I stimulated DNA synthesis and proteoglycan synthesis of cultured growth plate chondrocytes, but inhibited tube morphogenesis of endothelial cells. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies indicated that ChM-I is specifically expressed in the avascular zone of cartilage in developing bone, but not present in calcifying cartilage. These results suggest a regulatory role of ChM-I in vascular invasion during endochondral bone formation.

Enhanced invasiveness of tumour cells after host exposure to heavy metals

The invasiveness of tumour cells to heavy metal-exposed host cells or tissues was investigated. Human fibrosarcoma cell invasion of heavy metal-treated fibroblast or endothelial cell was enhanced in a treatment-time-dependent manner although tumour cell attachment to host cells was not affected. This enhancement was correlated with an increase in metallothioneins in the cytosol of fibroblasts or endothelial cells. Mouse melanoma cell invasion of organ samples obtained from syngeneic mice who had been administered heavy metals was also enhanced. The results suggest that heavy metal-induced metallothioneins serve as a host-derived factor in malignant disease and closely relate to metastasis.

Beta 1-integrin-mediated adhesion of melanoma cells to the propolypeptide of von Willebrand factor

Cell-adhesion activity of the bovine propolypeptide of von Willebrand factor (pp-vWF) was assessed by means of an in vitro assay with several cell lines of both normal and tumor-cell origin. pp-vWF promoted adhesion and spreading of B16 mouse melanoma cells and G-361 human melanoma cells. However, it could not induce adhesion of any other cell lines tested including endothelial cells, normal fibroblasts, and tumor cells of sarcoma, carcinoma, neuroblastoma and leukemia origin. A monospecific polyclonal antibody against pp-vWF, but not against fibronectin, laminin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF), completely blocked the pp-vWF-mediated adhesion, indicating that the cell adhesion was due to the pp-vWF molecule and not due to possible contamination of these three well-known adhesive proteins. The cell-adhesion activity was also observed with human pp-vWF and, furthermore, the adhesion to both bovine and human pp-vWF was not affected by a peptide containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence while the peptide abolished the cell adhesion to vWF. The adhesion was completely dependent on Mg2+ and inhibited by Ca2+. Inhibition by an anti-(beta 1 integrin) mAb (4B4) indicates that the receptor for this protein belongs to the beta 1-integrin family. A monoclonal antibody (TC4) among several antibodies directed against bovine pp-vWF inhibited the B16 adhesion to immobilized pp-vWF. The epitope for this monoclonal antibody lies in a central 8-kDa portion of pp-vWF, suggesting that this region is important for the cell-adhesion activity. This idea was supported by the finding that purified 8-kDa fragment promoted adhesion of B16 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. As pp-vWF shows unique cell-type specificity in its adhesion activity, which is completely different from that of fibronectin, laminin, vWF and collagen, it may be a novel type of adhesive glycoprotein that utilizes a beta 1-integrin receptor.

Comparative study on inclusion complexation of maltosyl-beta-cyclodextrin, heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin and beta-cyclodextrin with fucosterol in aqueous and solid state

The complexation of fucosterol with three kinds of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) was investigated in aqueous solution and in the solid state. The solubility of fucosterol increased significantly on its complexation with maltosyl-beta-CyD and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-CyD (DM-beta-CyD), while no appreciable increase was observed when complexed with beta-CyD. The stability constant of complexation with beta-CyD estimated from solubility determinations was greater for a 1:2 complex than for a 1:1 complex. On the other hand, 1:1 complexation of fucosterol with maltosyl-beta-CyD or DM-beta-CyD was greater than 1:2 complexation. The solid complexes were obtained in molar ratios of 1:2 and 1:3 for beta-CyD and maltosyl-beta-CyD complexes, respectively. The inclusion behaviour of fucosterol with maltosyl-beta-CyD was compared with beta-CyD in the solid state using DSC, powder X-ray diffractometry and CP/MAS 13C NMR. Maltosyl-beta-CyD showed different inclusion behaviour compared with beta-CyD, and produced an amorphous structure of fucosterol on complex formation. The dissolution rate of fucosterol-maltosyl-beta-CyD complex was significantly faster than other complexes due to its high aqueous solubility and amorphous structure.

A dramatic pH-dependent alteration in ANP receptor density: a note for using cultured cells

Culture media tend to become acidic when rapidly growing cells are cultured under batch conditions using a CO2/HCO3- buffer system. The effects of this inherent lowering of pH on cellular makeup of cultured cells, which have long been ignored, were examined by monitoring the pH and number of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptors expressed on the cultured bovine endothelial cells. The Eagle's minimum essential medium was adjusted to three different pH values of 7.0, 7.4, and 7.7 and used for 48-h batch cultures. After this 48-h incubation, the pH values of the media were found to be 7.0, 7.1, and 7.4, respectively. These pH shifts had unexpectedly strong influences on the ANP receptor levels without affecting the affinity. Cells maintained in the slightly higher pH medium had a trace amount of the receptor (< 10 sites/cell), while those in the lower pH environment exhibited a large number of binding sites (40,000 sites/cell). Similar situations might occur in other cellular components and in other types of cells, and therefore, such possibilities should be kept in mind when cultured cell systems are used.

Endothelial production of C-type natriuretic peptide and its marked augmentation by transforming growth factor-beta. Possible existence of "vascular natriuretic peptide system"

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the third member of the natriuretic peptide family, is thus far known to be distributed mainly in the central nervous system and is considered to act as a neuropeptide, in contrast to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which act as cardiac hormones. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that the ANP-B receptor, which is selectively activated by CNP, is localized not only in the central nervous system but in peripheral tissues, including blood vessels. This finding has made us speculate regarding the peripheral production of CNP. In the present study, cultured endothelial cells were examined for CNP production by RIA and Northern blot analysis. CNP-like immunoreactivity was detected in the conditioned media of endothelial cells. Northern blot analysis detected CNPmRNA with a size of 1.2 kb. In addition, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, one of the key growth factors for vascular remodeling, markedly stimulated the expression of CNPmRNA and induced a tremendous increase in CNP secretion. We could also detect CNP transcript in the bovine thoracic aorta using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. The present study demonstrates the endothelial production of CNP and suggests that a member of the natriuretic peptide family may act as a local regulator in vascular walls. Since evidence for the pathophysiological importance of the vascular renin-angiotensin system has been accumulating and the natriuretic peptide system is known to be antagonistic to the renin-angiotensin system, the possible existence of "vascular natriuretic peptide system" may prove to be of physiological and clinical relevance.

Cell cycle-dependent changes in tissue transglutaminase mRNA levels in bovine endothelial cells

The pattern of transglutaminase gene expression through the cell cycle was examined by Northern blot analysis using cultured bovine endothelial cells and a cDNA probe. When the cells reached confluency or were arrested in G0/G1 phase by nutrition deprivation, transglutaminase mRNA rose to a very high level; S- and M-phase extracts showed high and low levels, respectively. Subcellular localization studies by sucrose gradient centrifugation and immunostaining demonstrated that the majority of transglutaminase is present in cytosols throughout the cycle. The cell cycle-dependent changes in the transglutaminase mRNA levels strongly support the implicated involvement of the enzyme in cell growth, differentiation, and senescence.

Effect of various polyamino acids and D- and L-amino acids on the blood fibrinolytic system

1. Comparative additional effects of 24 commercially obtained amino acids and their derivatives were studied by the whole blood clot lysis time (WBCLT) method. D-Arg and L-Lys (greater than 50 micrograms/ml) activated the fibrinolytic system, and poly-L-Glu (mol. wt 6000-90,000) (less than 50 micrograms/ml) were less effective. 2. Poly-L-Arg, poly-L-Lys and poly-(Lys-Ala-Glu-Tyr) accelerated the TPA inhibition in the presence of human plasma. 3. For in vivo experiments, 5 mg of poly-L-Glu were given intravenously to 10 rats. 4. The shortening of WBCLT and elevation of EFA (P less than 0.01) were found after 1 hr administration. 5. The main enzymes which increased in plasma were proved to be the endogenous plasminogen activators with mol. wt higher than 70,000, by zymography.

Existence of lipid vesicles containing platelet-activating factor in endothelial cell lysate

Platelet aggregation activity due to platelet-activating factor (PAF) was detected at high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight fractions after gel-filtration chromatography of cell lysate of endothelial cells. [3H]PAF added to the cell lysate was similarly distributed after chromatography. The radioactivity associated with HMW fraction was not reduced by digesting the lysate with trypsin, suggesting that PAF was not making complexes with proteins but was included in lipid vesicles in cell lysate. Further evidence showed that an unknown specific factor(s) was needed to form these PAF-containing lipid vesicles. Radioactivity was not found in HMW fraction when [3H]PAF was mixed with cell lysate of vascular smooth muscle cells. When monomeric PAF was added to endothelial cell lysate, the specific activity of aggregation decreased to the level exerted by endogenous PAF-containing lipid vesicles due to incorporation into lipid vesicles. PAF in the form of lipid vesicles was more stable in plasma than monomeric form.

Toxicity of sitosterol to human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro

The pathogenesis of the early development of atherosclerosis in sitosterolaemia is unknown. The effect of sitosterol on vascular endothelial cells in vitro was investigated by culturing human umbilical vein endothelial cells in the presence of up to 0.7 mmol l-1 of sitosterol. Liposomes were used to supply the high sterol concentrations. Exposure to 0.7 mmol l-1 of sitosterol for 72 h caused contraction of the endothelial cells and increased release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase. After 96 h incubation the cells were partly detached from the substrate. At this time-point 0.35 mmol l-1 of sitosterol also caused perturbation of the endothelial cells. However, we could not confirm previous reports that tissue plasminogen activator production was enhanced by sitosterol.

Human adrenal tumor cell line SW-13 contains a natriuretic peptide receptor system that responds preferentially to ANP among various natriuretic peptides

A new type of ANP receptor system which clearly distinguishes natriuretic peptides A and B (ANP and BNP) has been identified in the human adrenal tumor cell line SW-13 and characterized. SW-13 cells responded to nanomolar concentrations of ANP with large increases in cGMP levels but in the case of BNP, much higher concentrations were required to produce the same extent of response. This property is unique since the 140-kDa ANP receptors so far characterized do not discriminate between ANP and BNP. For comparison, various natriuretic peptide receptors were also re-characterized using the recently identified CNP.

Endothelin in human plasma and culture medium of aortic endothelial cells--detection and characterization with radioimmunoassay using monoclonal antibody

We have developed monoclonal (KY-ET-1-I) and polyclonal (ET-F5) antibodies against endothelin-1 (ET-1) and established sensitive radioimmunoassays (RIAs) with different specificities. The RIA with KY-ET-1-I detected ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3, while the RIA with ET-F5 recognized ET-3 very weakly. Using these RIAs, we have investigated the concentration and molecular forms of ET-1-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in culture medium of bovine aortic endothelial cells and human plasma. Culture medium of endothelial cells contained two major components compatible with big ET and ET-1. ET-1-LI was also detected in human plasma. ET-1-LI in human plasma consisted of apparent two components, the small molecular form emerging at the position of ET-1 and the large form with the peak eluting at the preceding fraction of the elution position of big ET. The concentration of the small form of ET in human plasma was about 5 pg/ml.

Radioimmunoassay for endothelin and immunoreactive endothelin in culture medium of bovine endothelial cells

Using a synthetic 21-residue endothelin as antigen, we have produced an antiserum for endothelin and developed a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for endothelin. The minimum detection limit of the RIA was 1 pg/tube. Immunoreactive (ir-) endothelin was extracted from the culture medium by Bondelute C8 column. The ir-endothelin in the culture medium of endothelial cells (EC) from bovine pulmonary artery and carotid artery was 1.48 ng/ml and 3.31 ng/ml, respectively. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with the RIA revealed that ir-endothelin in the culture medium comprised one major component corresponding to synthetic endothelin. In addition, the cultured EC of bovine pulmonary artery were specifically stained by immunohistochemical technique. These results suggest that endothelin could be produced in the EC of the pulmonary and carotid arteries besides the aorta. The RIA presented in this study could be an useful tool to investigate the pathophysiologic significance of endothelin.

Stimulation of Na-K-Cl cotransport in cultured vascular endothelial cells by atrial natriuretic peptide

Vascular endothelial cells have been shown to contain atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-sensitive Na-K-Cl cotransport system whose activity is regulated by intracellular cGMP levels. Addition of ANP to culture medium stimulated 86Rb+ uptake in bovine endothelial cells with a concomitant increase in cGMP contents. This action of ANP was mimicked by 8-bromo-cGMP and completely diminished by furosemide. These results indicate that ANP selectively activates the Na-K-Cl cotransporter in vascular endothelial cells via cGMP and offer new insight into the physiological significance of endothelial ANP receptors.

Enhancement of plasminogen activator activity in cultured endothelial cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

A hitherto unknown function of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was found using cultured endothelial cells. G-CSF stimulated activity of plasminogen activator (PA) in both extracellular and intracellular milieus of endothelial cells obtained from bovine carotid and aortic artery. This effect was dependent on the concentration of G-CSF added to the culture medium and on the treatment time. The extracellular activity was enhanced approximately 5-fold at a concentration of 5,000 colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml (2.6 nM) and in about a 15-hr treatment period. Analyses by fibrin and reverse fibrin autography revealed that activity of PA was much more increased than that of PA inhibitor in endothelial cells treated with G-CSF.

Bovine endothelial cell plasminogen activator inhibitor. Purification and heat activation

A plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) was purified from bovine endothelial cell conditioned medium by a simple procedure in the absence of protein denaturant. The yield was 2.2 mg from 1.61 conditioned medium in a typical experiment. The purified inhibitor showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse fibrin autography with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa. The amino-terminal 40-amino-acid sequence was determined and found to be 70% similar to the reported corresponding sequence of human PAI-1. The amino acid composition also revealed a close relationship between bovine PAI and human PAI-1. The purified PAI was substantially inactive (570 U/mg) but it could be activated by treatment with protein denaturants such as 1% SDS (1.8 X 10(5) U/mg) and 4 M guanidine-HCl (1.5 X 10(5) U/mg). A more effective activation of this latent PAI was achieved by heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 2.5 min, generating the specific activity of 1.0 X 10(6) U/mg. The heat-activated PAI lost its activity during incubation at 56 degrees C for 30 min, but repeated heat at 100 degrees C for 2.5 min could regenerate about 70% of the initial activity. Treatment at 37 degrees C, 56 degrees C and 80 degrees C, however, failed to activate the latent PAI at all. These findings suggest that the buried reactive site of the latent PAI is exposed as a result of a heat-induced, specific conformational change, but tends to be masked again during renaturation under mild conditions, i.e. the PAI protein takes on preferentially a latent form.

Analysis of the plasminogen activator activity of the human glomerulus

An assay was developed to measure plasminogen activator activity from isolated human glomeruli. Activator was extracted from individual glomeruli with 0.2 M phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4 (PBS), containing 0.01% Triton X-100 and quantitated in 125I-fibrin films. Quenching studies using antibodies to tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase revealed that the extracted glomerular plasminogen activator activity contained both tissue plasminogen activator of urokinase. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised to tissue plasminogen activator demonstrated low-level inhibition of urokinase activity and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to urokinase demonstrated low-level inhibition of tissue plasminogen activator activity. The assay should be applicable to the study of glomerular plasminogen activator activity in experimental and human kidney diseases. The detection of antibody cross-reactivity to tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase may be related to the sensitivity of the 125I-fibrin assay and to the structural similarities of these activators.

Cooperativity between platelet-activating factor and collagen in platelet aggregation

Cell lysate obtained from cultured vascular endothelial cells contained a substance which induced platelet aggregation. This substance was identified as a phospholipid, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (platelet-activating factor; PAF), by thin-layer chromatography, phospholipase A2 digestion, inhibition by a specific antagonist, CV-3988, and agonist-specific refractory state. It was further found that PAF and collagen together induced extensive aggregation of platelets even with the concentrations by which each agonist alone could not induce aggregation of platelets at all.

Visible fibrinolysis by endothelial cells: effect of vitamins and sterols

We have succeeded in corroborating the enhancing effect of vitamin A, vitamin C, sitosterol and fucosterol on the fibrinolytic activity of endothelial cells. The assay system consisted of an in situ dissolution of a fibrin layer coated onto a culture dish, over which endothelial cells were grown in a culture medium containing 10% serum. The dissolution was enhanced by the addition of these vitamins and phytosterols to the culture medium.

Fucosterol decreases angiotensin converting enzyme levels with reduction of glucocorticoid receptors in endothelial cells

The modulation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels was studied using fucosterol, one of phytosterols, in cultured bovine carotid endothelial cells. Addition of fucosterol to the culture medium resulted in the decrease of ACE activity of endothelial cells; however, fucosterol did not directly inhibit ACE activity. Dexamethasone elevated the levels of ACE in normal cells, but this effect was not seen in the fucosterol-treated cells. Receptor assays showed that the amount of glucocorticoid receptors in fucosterol-treated cells decreased to an undetectable level. These results indicate that fucosterol lowers the ACE levels on the endothelial cells by inhibiting the synthesis of glucocorticoid receptors involved in the regulation of ACE levels.

Synergism of vitamins A and C on fibrinolysis

A hitherto unknown synergism exerted by retinol (vitamin A) and L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was discovered using endothelial cells. Retinol stimulated the extracellular and intracellular activities of plasminogen activator up to approximately 8- and 4-fold from the control values, respectively. L-Ascorbic acid enhanced the extracellular and intracellular activities up to approximately 1.5-fold. Above all it was demonstrated that their effects on extracellular activity were synergistic; simultaneous administration of these two vitamins enhanced the extracellular activity up to a 20- to 50-fold. Synthesis of plasminogen activator induced with vitamins A and C was inhibited by a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide.

Successive study on the production of plasminogen activator in cultured endothelial cells by phytosterol

In a previous study(1), it was demonstrated that one of phytosterols, sitosterol, has an ability to increase the intracellular and extracellular activities of plasminogen activator in cultured endothelial cells and that other steroids including cholesterol, 5-androsten-3 beta-ol, stigmasterol, 20(R)-propyl-5-pregnen-3 beta-ol and 20(R)-heptyl-5-pregnen-3 beta-ol have no ability. Once-stimulated cells went back to normal states by removal of sitosterol. The similar lines of research for plasminogen activators were reported by several groups which were cited in a previous paper(l). In the present communication, we found that fucosterol, which is present mainly in brown algae, Phaeophyta, enhances the production of plasminogen activator in endothelial cells, as well as sitosterol. A similar enhancement was not observed for other steroids and sex hormones including androsterone, testosterone, estrone and estradiol. Synthesis of plasminogen activator induced with fucosterol or sitosterol was inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. The plasminogen activators produced in cells were, in the present study, classified into urokinase-type activators with molecular weights of 31,000 and 55,000 and tissue-type ones with molecular weights of 81,000 and 130,000, which were identified with respective antibodies. The synthesis of each type of plasminogen activator in endothelial cells was stimulated by sitosterol or by fucosterol.