[The effect of Lipopolysacharide (LPS) on morphology and function of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs)].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of LPS on the morphology and function of HUVECs, so as to explore the roles of activated vascular endothelial cells (VEC) by LPS in systemic inflammatory reaction, sepsis and MOF.


METHODS
HUVECs primarily cultured in vitro were employed as the model. Inverted microscope was used to observe the effects of LPS on the morphology of HUVECs. ELISA was used to assess the IL-6 content. The expression of ICAM-1 was determined by immunofluorescent staining method with confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscope.


RESULTS
The morphology of HUVECs could be altered by LPS to become long cord-like in shape. The smallest dose of LPS for stimulating the secretion of IL-6 from HUVEC was 1 ng/ml, and the effect was enhanced parallel to the increase of the concentration of LPS and reached top level at 8 postburn hours. The expresson of ICAM-1 on the nucleic and cytoplasmic membrane of HUVECs increased obviously after HUVECs was cultured with LPS (10 ng/ml) for 24 hours when observed by laser confocal scanning light microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
The morphology and function of HUVECs could be evidently affected by LPS. As a result, LPS might play important roles in the increase of vascular permeability, the promotion of leukocytic adherence, and the initiation of inflammatory cascade reaction.
Cheng
J
J
Institute of Burn Research, Southwestern Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038 P,R, China.
Yuan
J
J
Zheng
J
J
D002460:Cell Line; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D013997:Time Factors; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1