title: Cytokine profiles of cultured microvascular endothelial cells from the human intestine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytokine production by endothelial cells, has, for practical reasons, been chiefly studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) but, because tissue-specific differences apparently exist, the role of human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMEC) as a source of mucosal cytokines was also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of cytokine transcripts in HIMEC was screened by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and compared with cytokine profiles of HUVEC. Production of cytokines was investigated by bioassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the basal unstimulated state, HIMEC and HUVEC cultures contained detectable mRNA for interleukin (IL)-3, IL-7, IL-8, IL-11, IL-14, IL-15, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and granulocytemacrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). However, message was undetectable for IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-13, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in the resting as well as the stimulated state. Stimulation of HIMEC and HUVEC with recombinant human (rh) IL-1 beta or rhTNF-alpha induced cell associated bioactive IL-1 alpha but not IL-1 beta, as well as enhanced secretion of both IL-6 and IL-8. Furthermore, transcript levels for GM-CSF and TNF-alpha were enhanced by rhIL-1 beta or rhTNF-alpha in both cell types. Supernatants from Th1-like or Th0-like gluten reactive intestinal T cell clones derived from patients with coeliac disease elicited cytokine profiles in both HIMEC and HUVEC similar to those revealed after rhIL-1 beta or rhTNF-alpha stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that the intestinal microvascular endothelium may contribute to the cytokine network of the intestinal mucosa with the ability to respond to locally generated cytokines and to produce potent inflammatory mediators.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology (LIIPAT), University of Oslo, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Jahnsen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brandtzaeg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haraldsen
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology; D008833:Microcirculation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor