Various cells release a stable small molecule that inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation

J. J. Liu, B. Xie, P. J. Thurlow, J. S. Wiley and J. R. Chen Department of Cardiac Surgery, Austin Hospital, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. Previous studies have shown that neutrophils release a stable factor that inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation. In the present studies, the effects of supernatants derived from various cells on endothelium-dependent relaxation were studied. Cells were obtained from seven sources: human hematopoietic cells including mononuclear leukocytes (MONO), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells; cells of the cardiovascular system including human endothelial cell line ECV304, human smooth muscle cells, and rat myocardial cells; and the tumor cell line HPB. These isolated or cultured cells were incubated for 1 h in Krebs solution to release the factor. The results showed that the supernatants from 10(5) cells/ml of all cells except the tumor cell line HPB produced a potent inhibitory effect on endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aortic rings in response to acetylcholine and Ca2+ ionophores A23187 and ionomycin but not on endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate. When the concentration increased to 10(6) cell/ml, the supernatants from the tumor cell line HPB also slightly but significantly inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation. The potency order was PMNs = MONO = CLL cells > cardiac cells > smooth muscle cells > the endothelial cell line ECV304 > the tumor cell line HPB. It seems that the hematopoietic cells and the cardiac cells are more active in release of the factor. The effect of this factor was rapid in onset and hard to wash out. A cyclooxygenase inhibitor or a thromboxane A2-prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist partially but significantly reduced the effect of the factor.