title: Engulfment of apoptotic cells by microvascular endothelial cells induces proinflammatory responses.
abstract: Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have been detected in a variety of vascular disorders, but their interactions with healthy endothelium remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of human endothelial cells (ECs) to apoptotic or necrotic ECs in an in vitro model and to delineate pathogenetic pathways. Here we show that incubation of the human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) with apoptotic ECs resulted in increased expression of chemokines and enhanced binding of leukocytes to HMEC-1 cells, whereas exposure of HMEC-1 cells to necrotic ECs caused no changes in leukocyte-binding affinity. Both apoptotic and necrotic cells were bound and engulfed by HMEC-1 cells and primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We therefore suggest that exposures to apoptotic and necrotic ECs induce different patterns of chemokine synthesis and leukocyte adhesion in healthy ECs. These data indicate that CECs are not only markers of vascular damage but may induce proinflammatory signals in the endothelium.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woywodt
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beese
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: Joon-Keun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erdbruegger
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haubitz
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009336:Necrosis; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators