Differential Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Platelet-Activating Factor on Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells in Vitro

The effects of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) on monolayer permeability, cytotoxicity, and release of prostacyclin (measured as the stable metabolite 6-ketoprostaglandin [PG]F1α) and thromboxane (TX)B2 were investigated in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC). After 4 h of incubation, TNFα (2000 U/mL) induced an increase in steady-state 125I-albumin permeability across the BPAEC monolayer (2.9 ± 0.3%/h vs. 1.8 ± 0.3%/h in control monolayers; n = 7, p < .05), and induced release of 6-keto-PGF1α (2581 ± 226 pg/mL vs. 863 ± 164 pg/mL in controls; n = 16, p < .05) and TXB2 (204 ± 14 pg/mL vs. 105 ± 23 pg/mL in controls; n = 10, p < .05). PAF-incubation was also associated with increased 6-keto-PGFα and TXB2 release (4157 ± 471 pg/mL and 276 ± 32 pg/mL, respectively), but did not markedly alter morphology or increase 125I-albumin permeability. Specific tritiated deoxyglucose release and specific LDH release were unaffected by both treatments. These results indicate that TNFα contributed directly to increased BPAEC permeability without cytotoxicity or requirement for other serum or cellular components. However, PAF did not directly alter endothelial barrier function despite increased release of 6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2.