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Von Willebrand factor (vWF), a protein necessary for platelet adhesion and thrombus formation, is specifically synthesized in endothelial cells and in platelet precursors (megakaryocytes). We previously demonstrated that the sequences localized either in the 5'-flanking region or in the first exon of human (hu) vWF gene (vWF), which regulate the cell-specific transcription, are not conserved in the bovine counterpart. In order to look for cis-acting elements involved in the endothelial expression of bovine (bo) vWF, fragments including 113 base pairs (bp) of a sequence 5'-flanking the transcription start point (tsp, +1) and various deletions of the first 233 bp exon were linked in plasmids to the bacterial chloramphenicol (Cm) acetyltransferase gene (cat). These constructs were analyzed by transient transfection in calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE), human epithelial (HeLa) from cervix and green monkey fibroblasts from kidney (COS) cells. The longest fragment, containing 229 bp of the first exon, was the most active, with identical cat expression in the three cell types. The CAT activity was equivalent to that measured by transfection of the same cells with the basal promoter (from bp -89 to +19) of hu vWF. Addition of upstream bo vWF sequences from bp -113 to -1362 resulted in progressive reduction of the activity of the -113/+229 fragment. The upstream negative regulatory domains between -1362 and -278 also repressed the heterologous thymidine kinase (tk) promoter in CPAE and HeLa cells. Comparison of results with those previously obtained by transfection of hu vWF promoter in bovine endothelial cells demonstrates that the cis-acting elements do not behave identically in bo vWF promoter. In particular, positive tissue-specific elements able to overcome the negative regulation in endothelial cells could not be found in bo vWF between bp -1362 and +229.

Blood monocytes spontaneously activate endothelial cells in culture, leading to adhesion of monocytic cells onto the endothelial surface and overproduction of endothelial proteins such as von Willebrand factor (vWf) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). To overcome the difficulty in obtaining quiescent monocytes, we studied the ability of promonocytic THP-1 cells to activate endothelial cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-prestimulated and untreated THP-1 cells were cocultured with resting human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) for 3 and 24 h in the presence of colimycin to neutralize LPS traces. Addition of untreated THP-1 cells had little effect on HUVEC adhesiveness. Addition of prestimulated THP-1 cells was followed by a noticeable adhesion after 3 h which reversed to basal values within 24 h. Under these conditions HUVEC adhesion molecules, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, were increased at 3 h with only ICAM-1 remaining overexpressed at 24 h. Diffusible endothelial proteins such as soluble E-selectin, PAI-1 and vWf to a minimal extent, increased in supernatants from HUVEC cocultured for 24 h with prestimulated THP-1 cells. In those cocultures, TNF alpha concentrations peaked at 3 h whereas IL-1 beta levels progressively rose until 24 h. Addition of an anti-TNF alpha antibody decreased by 40% E-selectin and ICAM-1 induction and suppressed PAI-1 overproduction with a weak effect on vWf. An anti-IL-1 beta antibody had negligible effects on HUVEC adhesion molecules, PAI-1 or vWf production. These results provide evidence that promonocytic THP-1 cells require prestimulation in order to activate HUVEC and that TNF alpha contributes to this phenomenon.

It has been proposed that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is involved in the differentiation of several cell types and this study analysed whether von Willebrand factor (vWf) synthesis, which is a marker of the megakaryocyte maturation of these cells, would be enhanced by agents acting on cAMP formation. Different compounds known to stimulate cAMP accumulation in cells were used: dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP), isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX) or pentoxifylline (PTX) and forskolin. Treatments with db-cAMP or IBMX (10-1,000 microM) induced a dose-dependent increase in vWf synthesis. Associations of IBMX with forskolin produced a synergistic enhancement in vWf synthesis. PTX alone did not enhance vWf synthesis but a latent effect was revealed in the presence of forskolin or db-cAMP. The increase in vWf mRNA shown by Northern blot analysis demonstrates that the protein synthesis correlates with the transcript expression after db-cAMP or IBMX treatments. vWf synthesis paralleled the accumulation of cAMP in the cells. Moreover vWf expression induced by combination of IBMX with forskolin was associated with a moderate increase in the percentage of GPIIb/IIIa positive cells and in the ploidy level related to an important inhibition of cell growth. These data provide evidence that agents acting on cAMP metabolism induce vWf synthesis in the Dami megakaryoblastic cells.

We have studied the effects of PAI-1 on the conversion of scu-PA into tcu-PA in vitro in plasma containing or not a 125I-fibrin clot by determining tcu-PA activity on S2444. Two preparations of PAI-1 have been used, a fraction of medium conditioned with the monkey Vero cells (Vero-Prep), the antiurokinase activity of which is inhibited at 83% by anti PAI-1 IgG, or purified human PAI-1 from HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Scu-PA purified from human kidney cells has been treated with diisopropylfluorophosphate before use. In plasma, conversion of scu-PA into the tc form is accelerated by addition of anti PAI-1 IgG. In plasma containing a clot, generation of tcu-PA, is considerably delayed after addition of the Vero-Prep or human PAI-1. Clot lysis is also decreased but to a lesser extent than it would be expected from the level of tcu-PA activity. Addition of anti PAI-1 antibodies shortens the lag phase before tcu-PA appears and moderatly accelerates clot lysis. These results demonstrate the importance of PAI-1 for the stability of scu-PA in plasma in vitro by delaying its conversion into tcu-PA.

Studies during recent years have shown the importance of the vascular endothelium in several physiological and pathological circumstances. The culture of endothelial cells has permitted the direct study of endothelial functions. The endothelium is a selective barrier between blood and tissues: the molecules cross it, according to their size, either through the intercellular junctions or through the cells by pinocytotic vesicles. The permeability is modulated by vasomotor agents and modified during endothelial regeneration, especially for the lipids. The endothelium plays a prominent part in the maintenance of the blood flow through its nonthrombogenic properties. It metabolizes circulating thrombogenic substances (arachidonic acid, adenosine diphosphate) and produces potent antiaggregating agents (prostacyclin and adenosine). It may also release a plasminogen activator promoting thrombolysis. The endothelial cells contribute to the formation of the basement membrane by synthesizing collagen and fibronectin, which are involved in platelet adhesion and aggregation to exposed subendothelium. On the other hand, the endothelium has a modulating influence on the local blood flow by producing vasoconstrictors (angiotensin II and III) and vasodilating agents (adenosine and prostacyclin). It is not necessary to elucidate the coordination of these functions and their relationship to the endothelial disorders in vascular diseases.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was studied in various preparations of porcine brain microvessels to explore further the role of this enzyme in the blood-brain barrier to catecholamines. No difference was noted (Vm and Km) between microvessels isolated from three structures (caudate nucleus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex) in which the responses to circulating catecholamines in vivo are markedly different. Large and small microvessels from the caudate nucleus and the thalamus presented the same specific activity. Cell cultures obtained from small microvessels were rich in endothelial cells as identified by the presence of Factor VIII-related antigen. These preparations displayed an MAO activity about ninefold less than freshly isolated microvessels, although their prostaglandin synthetase activity appeared normal. These results suggest that MAO activity is not the main factor determining the regional differences in the cerebrovascular reactions to catecholamines, that MAO is not specifically localized in the endothelium but must be also present in the smooth muscle, and that the MAO activity is greatly decreased during cell culture.

Comparison, in the dog, of the fibrinolytic response to adrenaline and histamine in presence of adrenergic blocking agents, suggests that adrenergic stimulation plays only a minor role in the mobilization of plasminogen activators during histamine shock.

A preliminary characterization of a fibrinolytic inhibitor released by human umbilical vein endothelial cells in primary culture is reported. This molecule of Mr comprised between 2 X 10(5) and 10(6) and of alpha 2 mobility precipitates at 43% ammonium sulphate saturation and is totally adsorbed on Concanavalin A Sepharose 4 B. A possible relationship with alpha macroglobulins is discussed.

The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the production of fibrinolytic inhibitor by human endothelial cells was determined because results of previous experiments have shown us that it is possible to stimulate this synthesis with muramyl dipeptide. Treatment of these cells with LPS resulted in a marked enhancement of fibrinolytic inhibitor, as estimated in a urokinase-induced fibrinolysis assay. A dose-response curve was obtained for LPS concentrations ranging from 10 to 1,000 ng/ml, thus demonstrating the great sensitivity of these cells. This inhibitor did not reduce plasmin activity and formed complexes with high- and low-molecular-weight urokinase as visualized by fibrin enzymography on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoretic gels. The molecular weight of this inhibitor was estimated to be 54 to 58 kilodaltons. These findings led us to conclude that LPS stimulates formation of a plasminogen antiactivator. This LPS effect could be suppressed by polymyxin B and colimycin. The stimulatory effect of muramyl dipeptide required doses which were at least 1,000 times greater than those of LPS and was not decreased by polymyxin B. These results show the possibility of independent modulation of plasminogen antiactivator production at the endothelial level, which could be important in endotoxemia. Under these conditions colimycin might have an additional advantage for clinical use because of its ability to prevent fibrinolytic inhibition.

A decreased fibrinolytic activity induced by bacterial products and some muramyl peptides has been previously demonstrated in macrophages preparations. Since vascular endothelial cells are important for the fibrinolytic balance, we have studied the effects of MDP derivatives on cultured endothelial cells. The supernatant of MDP and murabutide treated cell cultures exhibited an increased fibrinolytic inhibitory activity when tested with urokinase. The MDP(D-D)-treatment had no effect. This increased inhibitory activity was detectable in the supernatant after a 6 h treatment and was suppressed by the addition of puromycin to the cell cultures. Furthermore, the endothelial cell culture supernatant also reduced the lytic activity of the human plasma plasminogen activator induced by venostasis. This was enhanced by MDP treatment of the cultures. These in vitro results suggested that adjuvant-active muramyl peptides may regulate the fibrinolytic balance at the vessel wall level. This could be of possible significance in the transendothelial cell migration where the role of plasminogen activator(s) has been involved.

The effects of natural and synthetic sex hormones (10(-8)M) have been studied on human umbilical endothelial cell proliferation and prostacyclin production. 17 B estradiol and progesterone had no effect on cell multiplication. Ethinyl-estradiol increased proliferation when the initial plating density was 40,000 cells/cm2. However, the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha induced by the Ca++ ionophore A 23187 was not different between control, 17 B estradiol-or ethinyl estradiol-treated cultures. These results demonstrate an in vitro effect of synthetic estrogen, ethinyl estradiol on endothelial cell proliferation. At the present time it is however difficult to correlate these results with the clinical observation of an increase in thromboembolic complications in women under oral contraceptives.

The in vivo induction of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) by well-defined immunomodulatory synthetic muramyl peptides has been demonstrated recently in mice. In the present study, we tested the capacities of three muramyl peptides to induce CSA production in human endothelial cell (HEC) cultures. Two adjuvant-active peptides (MDP and Murabutide) induced CSA in the supernatant of cultured endothelial cells, whereas an adjuvant-inactive compound had no effect. This effect of MDP and Murabutide appeared to be time and concentration dependent and was not secondary to decreased production of inhibitors of colony formation. CSA secretion by stimulated HEC required de novo protein synthesis and did not result from the release of preformed active CSA. Maximal concentration appeared in the supernatant media within the first 24 h after addition of muramyl peptides, and a substantial second CSA secretion could be observed after a subsequent 24 h reexposure. This CAS was not dialyzable and promoted granulocyte-macrophage formation of nonadherent human marrow and unfractionated murine marrow. Our data demonstrate that the human endothelial cell is a target cell for MDP and Murabutide and suggest that in vivo endothelium might play an active role in muramyl peptide-induced modulation of hematopoiesis.

Two subendothelial structures, glomerular basement membrane and arterial subendothelium, were compared regarding their biochemistry and ultrastructure and their role in physiology and pathology. Filtration function of the glomerular basement membrane can be related to the presence of three layers which are superimposed on each other and which differ regarding the orientation and density of the microfibrils. The arterial subendothelium which is a mixture of amorphous material, microfibrilis, elastin and collagen, with a still unknown orientation of these components, limits the transport of many blood molecules and reinforces the endothelial barrier. A striking difference is observed in the thrombogenicity of these two structures, especially in their reactivity towards platelets. This can be related to the presence of collagen IV in the glomerular basement membrane and of collagen III in the arterial subendothelium: in both cases adhesion of platelets can be observed. The presence of platelet aggregates on the subendothelial surface may also be seen. This is probably due to the presence of collagen III which is known to be able to induce the platelet release reaction and thereby promotes aggregation.

It was found that lipolytic activity in bovine post-heparin plasma differed from that of other mammalian species by the fact that intravenous heparin induced the release of lipoprotein lipase but not hepatic triacylglycerol lipase. Initially, this fact was strongly suspected when no remaining lipolytic activity could be found after whole bovine post-heparin plasma had been tested with either 1 M NaCl or antiserum against lipoprotein lipase. This was further confirmed by using heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography when the entire lipolytic activity was eluted with 1.5 M NaCl but none with 0.4 or 0.7 M NaCl. The active fraction had lipoprotein lipase characteristics, i.e. it required serum activators to produce optimum activity and was fully inhibited by NaCl of high molarity and by anti-lipoprotein lipase antiserum. Neither the different doses of heparin nor the various times of sampling altered the results. This raises the question whether hepatic triacylglycerol lipase is absent from the bovine liver or whether this enzyme is present but cannot be released by heparin.

The effect of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was studied in vitro on human endothelial cells. TNF (1-1000 pg/ml) induced a dose-dependent increase in PAI level in the supernatant from 6 to 25 U/ml as estimated against urokinase. This effect was time-dependent. It was not suppressed by Polymyxin B thus excluding a possible contribution of an endotoxin contamination. Fibrinoenzymography performed after SDS-PAGE showed that this inhibitor neutralized urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator and gave rise to high molecular weight complexes. TNF (30 micrograms/kg) was also injected in rat. Blood fibrinolytic activity determined 4 hr later was decreased as estimated by the prolongation of the euglobulin clot lysis time from 37 to 188 min. Fibrinoenzymographic profile of the plasma was then characterized by a fainting of the tPA lysis band but the capacity of plasma to neutralize urokinase was not significantly modified. These results suggest that TNF could alter the fibrinolytic balance by stimulating PAI production at the endothelial level. This might be of importance in synergy with the TNF-induced procoagulant activity for promoting vascular occlusion of tumor capillaries.

The effect of unfractioned heparin (UH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (Kabi 2165 - Fragmin) on in vitro scu-PA thrombolytic and fibrinogenolytic activity was investigated. Thrombolytic activity was evaluated by following lysis of radiolabeled plasma clot immersed in plasma in presence of scu-PA alone or with either form of heparin. A 200 IU/ml scu-PA concentration produced clot lysis within 7 hr. UH or LMWH led to a slightly faster clot lysis which was statistically significant only at the 2nd and 3rd hour. No significant difference could be evidenced between UH and LMWH effect. During clot lysis, plasmin, generated within the clot led to a gradual transformation of scu-PA to tcu-PA, specially after a 4-hr incubation. Appearance of tcu-PA activity in the plasma surrounding the clot was significantly inhibited by either form of heparin. This finding contrasts with results observed in purified systems and suggests the presence of heparin-dependent plasma factor(s) inhibiting tcu-PA formation or its activity. Possible candidates might be anti-thrombin III and PAI-3. No fibrinogen breakdown was observed when plasma was incubated for 7 hr at 37 degrees C in presence of scu-PA alone (200 IU/ml) or with either form of heparin. However, in presence of a plasma clot, an important fibrinogen breakdown was observed during clot lysis reflecting the action of plasmin and/or tcu-PA generated within the clot, in the surrounding plasma. Fibrinogenolysis was less pronounced in the presence of both heparin preparations possibly as a consequence of the reduction in the tcu-PA level. These results underline the importance of plasma factors in the interaction of heparin with plasminogen activators such as scu-PA.

We have used the uptake of (14C) adenine by human endothelial cells derived from umbilical cord to determine the presence of antigens of the ABO system on endothelial cells in culture. The results indicate that the same ABO type was detectable on endothelial cells by inhibition of the (14C) adenine uptake and on erythrocytes of the cord blood vessel by classical hemagglutination.

Lipoprotein lipase is an enzyme difficult to isolate in pure form and, until now, the antisera prepared against it have not been monospecific. The present experiments show how a crude antiserum prepared with bovine milk lipoprotein lipase, can be made more specific through suitable adsorption. The crude antiserum was prepared by injecting milk lipoprotein lipase prepared by heparin Sepharose affinity chromatography. Immunodiffusion techniques indicated that the antiserum contained antibodies to proteins other than lipoprotein lipase (bovine milk and serum proteins) and that these antibodies could be eliminated by adsorption with bovine serum and a beta-casein preparation.