title: Human serum, plasma, and platelets stimulate prostacyclin and endothelin-1 synthesis in human vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Prostacyclin (PGI2), a powerful vasodilatory prostanoid, and endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, are produced by vascular endothelial cells. We show that human serum (10%) caused a 3.2-fold stimulation both in PGI2 and ET-1 synthesis in human endothelial cells cultured from umbilical veins, and human plasma (10%) stimulated productions of both 1.6- and 1.7-fold, respectively. In addition, releasates from thrombin-activated platelets (20 x 10(9) platelets/l) caused a 1.9-fold increase in PGI2 and a 1.4-fold increase in the ET-1 synthesis. Releasates from frozen-thawed and sonicated platelets (20 x 10(9) platelets/l) caused a 3.6-fold increase in PGI2 release but did not affect ET-1 production. We thus conclude that, in normal situation, endothelial stimulating activity present in plasma perhaps plays a role in the regulation of endothelial function, whereas platelet-derived activity in serum may be important at site of thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikkola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ristimäki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viinikka
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ylikorkala
mesh_terms: D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016232:Endothelins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D011464:Epoprostenol; D013917:Thrombin