Stimulation of prostacyclin production from vascular endothelial cells by plasma, serum and platelets under normal and pathological conditions.
We have investigated the effects of plasma and serum from normal subjects on the production of prostacyclin (PGI2) by cultured porcine aortic vascular endothelial cells, measured by radioimmunoassay of its stable metabolite 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha). Both plasma and serum caused significant stimulation of the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha over basal levels. Serum caused consistently greater stimulation than plasma from the same individual. Washed platelet suspensions were induced to aggregate using thrombin and the supernatants stimulated the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha by cultured endothelial cells. Preliminary studies also show that a stimulatory factor is released from cultured human leucocytes. Serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and severe systemic sclerosis (SS), two connective tissue diseases with autoimmune features and vascular complications, showed significantly reduced levels of stimulation when compared with a control group.
D000818:Animals; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine
D001798:Blood Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011464:Epoprostenol