scholarly journals A novel flow cytometry-based quantitative monocyte adhesion assay to estimate endothelial cell activation in vitro

BioTechniques ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 325-333
Author(s):  
Vinnyfred Vincent ◽  
Himani Thakkar ◽  
Anjali Verma ◽  
Atanu Sen ◽  
Nikhil Chandran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Adhesion Assay ◽  
Monocyte Adhesion ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Functional Level

One of the earliest events in the development of atherosclerosis is endothelial activation, which is estimated in vitro at the functional level by quantifying monocyte adhesion. This involves the incubation of fluorescently labeled monocytes on top of cultured endothelial cells and quantifying the number of adhered monocytes. Currently, the quantification of adhered monocytes is done using microscopy or by lysing the cells and estimating the fluorescence. Here we present a novel flow cytometry-based method for the quantification of monocyte adhesion. This method could quantify the average number of monocytes adhered to a single endothelial cell after monocyte adhesion assay, and was also sensitive to the level of activation of endothelial cells. Flow cytometry-based quantification requires less time and effort compared with microscopy-based quantification.

scholarly journals Prevention of Heme-Induced Human Endothelial Cell Activation By Hemopexin in Vitro

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 8-8
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Adam ◽  
Thomas Gentinetta ◽  
Svetlana Diditchenko ◽  
Alexander Schaub ◽  
Gregory J Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Free Heme

Hemoglobin (Hb) is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body. When red blood cells rupture, cell-free Hb may initiate adverse pathophysiological reactions. Pathophysiology triggered by cell-free Hb plays an important role in modifying the phenotype of sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is caused by a single nucleotide mutation of the β-globin gene resulting in Hemoglobin-S (HbS) instead of the normal HbA found in healthy individuals. Polymerization of HbS shortens the lifespan of sickle red blood cells and promotes intra- and extravascular hemolysis. In cell-free Hb ferrous Hb (Fe2+) is oxidized into ferric Hb (Fe3+) promoting the dissociation and transfer of heme into lipid compartments where it triggers lipid peroxidation and generation of cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory reaction products. These processes promote endothelial cell activation and damage. The endogenous plasma protein hemopexin exhibits the highest binding affinity for heme and binds heme in a 1:1 binding ratio. Heme bound to hemopexin is rendered relatively non-reactive and is delivered safely to hepatocytes for endocytosis and degradation. To investigate the endothelial-protective function of hemopexin based on its ability to scavenge heme, we exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro to heme(NaOH) in the presence or absence of different hemopexin doses. As a read-out, different markers for endothelial cell activation were analyzed by either flow cytometry or multiplexed particle-based flow cytometry (Luminex). Briefly, confluent HUVEC were preincubated with hemopexin at different concentrations for 5 min before stimulation with heme(NaOH) for 25 min. Following stimulation cells were analyzed by flow cytometry for expression of membrane bound P-Selectin, a robust marker of endothelial cell activation. Alternatively, heme(NaOH) stimulation of hemopexin-preincubated HUVEC was conducted for 16 h and cell culture supernatants were analyzed by Luminex for three additional well-characterized plasma markers of endothelial cell activation: pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8, cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1 and glycoprotein Von Willebrand factor (vWF). In the absence of hemopexin, heme(NaOH) consistently induced robust cell surface expression of P-Selectin and elevated levels of soluble IL-8, VCAM-1 and vWF. However, hemopexin completely blocked the stimulatory potential of heme as HUVEC exposed to pre-formed heme:hemopexin complexes showed unchanged P-Selectin expression levels compared to negative control samples. We found that hemopexin reduced heme(NaOH)-mediated P-selectin expression on HUVEC in a dose-dependent fashion. Once an equimolar ratio between heme and hemopexin was reached, P-selectin expression was abolished as shown in figure 1. In addition to P-Selectin, hemopexin also had a strong effect to reduce the heme-induced expression of IL-8, VCAM-1 and vWF to background levels. Thus, the presented data underlines on the one hand the stimulatory capacity of heme(NaOH) on endothelial cells and demonstrates on the other hand the potential of hemopexin to efficiently neutralize free heme. In a stoichiometric fashion, hemopexin potently prevents the pro-inflammatory effect of heme on endothelial cells. Hence, our study suggests a protective role of hemopexin for endothelial cells exposed to elevated levels of cell-free heme due to intravascular hemolysis. Additional experiments are required to elucidate the effect of hemopexin on the endothelium in more detail. Combined with our other lines of data, our results further support the investigation of hemopexin as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Disclosures Adam: CSL Behring AG: Current Employment. Gentinetta:CSL Behring: Current Employment. Diditchenko:CSL Behring AG: Current Employment. Schaub:CSL Behring AG: Current Employment. Kato:CSL Behring AG: Current Employment. Brinkman:CSL Behring: Current Employment. Zuercher:CSL Behring AG: Current Employment.

Abstract 66: The Role of the Viral Nef Protein as a Mediator of HIV-1--Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Hiv 1

With the prevalence of antiviral therapy in the developed world, many HIV-1-infected people die of diseases other than AIDS. One of the emerging major causes is cardiovascular disease, leading to the prediction that the majority of HIV-1 patients are expected to develop cardiovascular complications. Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a key event in the development of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. Assays testing the effect of HIV-1 on endothelial activation shows that direct contact with HIV-1 infected T cells enhance endothelial cell activation to a greater extent than HIV-1 alone, suggesting an intracellular HIV-1 protein is responsible for endothelial activation. The HIV-1 viral protein Nef, which is responsible for T cell activation and maintenance of high viral loads in vivo , has been shown to mediate its own transfer to bystander cells. We demonstrate here for the first time that Nef induces nanotube-like conduits connecting T cells and endothelial cells. We also show that Nef is transferred from T cells to endothelial cells via these nanotubes, and is necessary and sufficient for endothelial cell activation. Moreover, we show that SIV-infected macaques exhibit endothelial Nef expression in coronary arteries. Nef expression in endothelial cells causes endothelial apoptosis, ROS and MCP-1 production. Interestingly, a Nef SH3 binding site mutant abolishes Nef-induced apoptosis and ROS formation and reduces MCP-1 production in endothelial cells, suggesting that the Nef SH3 binding site is critical for Nef effects on endothelial cells. Nef induces apoptosis of endothelial cells through an NADPH oxidase- and ROS-dependent mechanism, while Nef-induced MCP-1 production is NF-kB dependent. Taken together, these data suggest that Nef can mediate its transfer from T cells to endothelial cells through nanotubes to enhance endothelial dysfunction.Thus, Nef is a promising new therapeutic target for reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease in the HIV-1 positive population.

Abstract MP27: Human Hypertension And Endothelial Cell Activation Promote The Formation And Activation Of Axl + Siglec-6 + Dendritic Cells Via Endothelial Release Of Growth Arrest Specific 6

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin P Van Beusecum ◽  
Natalia R Barbaro ◽  
Charles D Smart ◽  
David M Patrick ◽  
Cyndya A Shibao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Human Hypertension

We have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) from hypertensive mice convey hypertension when adoptively transferred to recipients. Recently a novel subset of DCs in humans that express Axl and Sigelc-6 + (AS DCs) have been identified which drive T cell proliferation and produce IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-23, consistent with DCs we have observed in hypertension. We hypothesized that AS cells are increased in hypertension and contribute to immune activation in this disease. We quantified circulating AS DCs by flow cytometry in normotensive (n=23) and hypertensive (n=11) subjects and found a more than 2-fold increase in circulating AS DCs in hypertensive compared to normotensive subjects (297 ± 73 vs. 108 ± 26/ml; p =0.0304). To investigate the mechanism by which AS DCs are formed in hypertension, we co-cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) undergoing either normotensive (5%) or hypertensive (10%) cyclical stretch for 48 hours with CD14 + monocytes from normotensive donors. Co-culture of monocytes with HAECs exposed to 10% stretch significantly increased AS DCs and AS DC IL-1β production when compared to 5% stretch alone as assessed by flow cytometry (21 ± 5 vs. 131 ± 32 IL-1β + AS DCs). Moreover, inhibition of Axl signaling with R248, completely abolished the production of IL-1β in AS DCs (34 ± 8 IL-1β + AS DCs). In additional experiments we found that 10% stretch caused a 50% increase in release of growth arrest 6 (GAS6), the ligand for Axl, from HAECs compared to 5% stretch. Treatment of human monocytes with GAS6 mimicked the effect of 10% stretch in promoting AS cell formation and IL-1β production. Based on the increased secretion of GAS6 from HAECs, we used a J-wire to harvest human endothelial cells from 23 additional volunteers to assess endothelial cell activation and GAS6 secretion in vivo. We found a positive association between pulse pressure and plasma GAS6 (R 2 =0.25, p =0.0079) and a striking positive association between GAS6 and ICAM-1 (R 2 =0.39, p =0.0012). These data show that secretion of GAS6 by an activated endothelial seems to promote the formation and activation of AS DCs. Thus, the interplay between endothelial-derived GAS6 and AS DCs seem to be an important mechanism in human hypertension and might be a novel therapeutic target for this disease.

scholarly journals Brucella abortus-Stimulated Platelets Activate Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Increasing Cell Transmigration through the Erk1/2 Pathway

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 708
Author(s):  
Ana María Rodríguez ◽  
Aldana Trotta ◽  
Agustina P. Melnyczajko ◽  
M. Cruz Miraglia ◽  
Kwang Sik Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Transendothelial Migration ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Microvascular Endothelial Cell ◽  
Inflammatory Disorder ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Microvascular Endothelial

Central nervous system invasion by bacteria of the genus Brucella results in an inflammatory disorder called neurobrucellosis. A common feature associated with this pathology is blood–brain barrier (BBB) activation. However, the underlying mechanisms involved with such BBB activation remain unknown. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of Brucella abortus-stimulated platelets on human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) activation. Platelets enhanced HBMEC activation in response to B. abortus infection. Furthermore, supernatants from B. abortus-stimulated platelets also activated brain endothelial cells, inducing increased secretion of IL-6, IL-8, CCL-2 as well as ICAM-1 and CD40 upregulation on HBMEC compared with supernatants from unstimulated platelets. Outer membrane protein 19, a B. abortus lipoprotein, recapitulated B. abortus-mediated activation of HBMECs by platelets. In addition, supernatants from B. abortus-activated platelets promoted transendothelial migration of neutrophils and monocytes. Finally, using a pharmacological inhibitor, we demonstrated that the Erk1/2 pathway is involved in the endothelial activation induced by B. abortus-stimulated platelets and also in transendothelial migration of neutrophils. These results describe a mechanism whereby B. abortus-stimulated platelets induce endothelial cell activation, promoting neutrophils and monocytes to traverse the BBB probably contributing to the inflammatory pathology of neurobrucellosis.

432. How do antiphospholipid antibodies contribute to preeclampsia?

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Q. Chen ◽  
C. Viall ◽  
P. R. Stone ◽  
L. W. Chamley
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Antiphospholipid Antibodies ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation

Preeclampsia is characterised by elevated maternal blood pressure which is preceded by endothelial activation. The cause of this endothelial cell dysfunction is unclear but it appears to be triggered by a placental factor. One of the risk factors for developing preeclampsia is the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the maternal blood but exactly how aPL predispose women to developing preeclampsia is unclear. A second feature known to be associated with preeclampsia is excessive shedding and deportation of dead trophoblasts. We have previously shown that shed trophoblasts are phagocytosed by endothelial cells and that phagocytosis of necrotic trophoblasts leads to endothelial cell activation1. In this study we examined the hypothesis that aPL alter the number or nature of trophoblasts shed from the placenta resulting in endothelial cell activation. Using our published model of trophoblast shedding 2 human first trimester placental explants were treated with monoclonal aPL, IIC5 or ID2, or control antibody CD45 for 72 h. Shed trophoblasts then were harvested and counted using a Cellometer AutoT4 automated cell counter. The activity of caspases 3&7 was analysed in all treated shed trophoblasts using a FLICA™ kit. The treated shed trophoblasts also were exposed to the endothelial cell line HMEC-1 for 24 h. The level of ICAM-1 by HMEC-1 was determined by cell-based ELISA. The number of trophoblasts shed from placental explants was increased 2 fold following aPL treatment whereas, treatment with CD45 resulted in only a 1.3 fold increase in shedding. Trophoblasts shed from aPL-treated explants contained less active caspases 3 & 7 compared with control shed trophoblasts. Moreover, phagocytosis of trophoblasts shed from aPL-treated explants induced significantly increased expression of ICAM-1 compared with controls. aPL treatment affected the number and nature of trophoblasts shed from placentae in such a way that phagocytosing endothelium become activated. These findings suggest that aPL treatment may have shifted the type of cell death that shed trophoblasts are undergoing from apoptosis to a more necrotic or aponecrotic mechanism. This type of shedding of trophoblasts in vivo might contribute to the endothelial cell activation which is a hallmark feature of preeclampsia. (1) Chen Q, Stone PR, McCowan LM et al. Phagocytosis of necrotic but not apoptotic trophoblasts induces endothelial cell activation. Hypertension. 2006;47:116–121. (2) Abumaree MH, Stone PR, Chamley LW. An in vitro model of human placental trophoblast deportation/shedding. Mol Hum Reprod. 2006;12:687–694.

106. IL-6 INCREASES THE SHEDDING OF NECROTIC TROPHOBLASTS FROM PLACENTAL EXPLANTS

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Q. Chen ◽  
L. Chen ◽  
B. Liu ◽  
H. Zhao ◽  
P. R. Stone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Monolayers ◽  
Cell Dysfunction

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterised by elevated maternal blood pressure, preceded by endothelial cell dysfunction. Dead trophoblasts, shed from the placenta may be one of the factors that trigger PE. Women with PE frequently have elevated serum levels of inflammatory markers such as, IL-6 and TNF a but their functional significance is unclear. In this study we investigated whether these or other cytokines can alter trophoblast shedding from placental explants. Placental explants were treated with 9 different cytokines for 72 hours. Shed trophoblasts then were harvested using our published method1. The numbers of trophoblasts shed were quantified by automated cell counter. Expression of active of caspases 3&7 by the shed trophoblasts was determined using a FLICA kit. The trophoblasts shed from cytokine-treated or control explants were exposed to endothelial cell monolayers and endothelial activation determined by ELISA for cell surface ICAM-1. Treatment of explants with IL-6 caused a 50% increase (p=0.001), while TNF a and TGF b 1, caused smaller significant increases in the numbers of trophoblasts shed. Trophoblasts shed from explants treated with IL-6, TGF b 1, or TGF b 3 expressed significantly less active caspases 3&7 than controls or trophoblasts shed from explants treated with other cytokines. Exposing trophoblasts shed from IL-6- or TGF b 1-treated explants to endothelial cells caused a significant (P<0.001) increase in endothelial activation. Normally trophoblasts shed from the placenta die by an apoptosis-like process and their phagocytosis by endothelial cells is silent but a shift to shedding of necrotic trophoblasts can lead to endothelial cell activation 2. However, it remains unclear what might trigger a shift from apoptotic to necrotic trophoblast death. This study suggests that IL-6 and possibly other cytokines can alter both the number and the nature of shed trophoblasts such that the trophoblast are more necrotic and their phagocytosis by maternal endothelial cells could contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

208. Exposing necrotic trophoblasts to endothelial cells in vitro causes increased adhesion of monocytes

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Q. Chen ◽  
P. Stone ◽  
L. McCowan ◽  
L. Chamley
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
U937 Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Maternal Circulation

A number of studies suggest that there is a generalized endothelial cell activation and inflammatory response in preeclampsia, which may be caused by factors released from the placenta including deported trophoblasts. Trophoblasts are the placental cells that are bathed in maternal blood during pregnancy and as they become aged or damaged trophoblasts are shed from the placenta and deported into the maternal circulation. The fate of deported trophoblasts is unknown but we have found that endothelial cells can phagocytose dead trophoblasts. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of phagocytosing dead trophoblasts on endothelial cell–monocyte interactions. Methods: The trophoblast-derived cell lines Jar and Jeg-3 were induced to undergo necrotic death by freeze/thawing or apoptotic death by exposure to UV light. HMEC-1 endothelial cells were labeled with green fluorescent cell tracker stain and then exposed to necrotic or apoptotic trophoblasts for 3 or 24 h. U937 (monocyte) cells were labeled with red fluorescent stain and incubated with the HMEC-1 monolayers for 3 or 24 h. The adhesion of the U937 cells to the HMEC-1 monolayers was quantified by flow cytometry and compared to the adhesion of U937 cells to untreated HMEC-1 monolayers. Results: Exposing the HMEC-1 cells to necrotic, but not apoptotic, trophoblasts induced an approximately two-fold increase in the adhesion of U937 cells to the HMEC-1 monolayers (P = 0.01). The findings were consistent regardless of whether the HEMC-1 cells were exposed to the dead trophoblasts for 3 or 24 h. Conclusions: We have previously shown that endothelial cells phagocytose both apoptotic and necrotic trophoblasts. The results of the current study suggest that shedding necrotic trophoblasts from the placenta could induce endothelial cells to become activated resulting in increased leucocyte adhesion. Thus, dead trophoblasts may be one of the factors released from the placenta that induce preeclampsia.

scholarly journals Functional interactions of T cells with endothelial cells: the role of CD40L-CD40-mediated signals.

1995 ◽  
Vol 182 (6) ◽  
pp. 1857-1864 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Yellin ◽  
J Brett ◽  
D Baum ◽  
A Matsushima ◽  
M Szabolcs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Cd40 Expression

CD40 is expressed on a variety of cells, including B cells, monocytes, dendritic cells, and fibroblasts. CD40 interacts with CD40L, a 30-33-kD activation-induced CD4+ T cell surface molecule. CD40L-CD40 interactions are known to play key roles in B cell activation and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. We now report that normal human endothelial cells also express CD40 in situ, and CD40L-CD40 interactions induce endothelial cell activation in vitro. Frozen sections from normal spleen, thyroid, skin, muscle, kidney, lung, or umbilical cord were studied for CD40 expression by immunohistochemistry. Endothelial cells from all tissues studied express CD40 in situ. Moreover, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express CD40 in vitro, and recombinant interferon gamma induces HUVEC CD40 upregulation. CD40 expression on HUVEC is functionally significant because CD40L+ Jurkat T cells or CD40L+ 293 kidney cell transfectants, but not control cells, upregulate HUVEC CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), CD62E (E-selectin), and CD106 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) expression in vitro. Moreover, the kinetics of CD40L-, interleukin 1-, or tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced CD54, CD62E, and CD106 upregulation on HUVEC are similar. Finally, CD40L-CD40 interactions do not induce CD80, CD86, or major histocompatibility complex class II expression on HUVEC in vitro. These results demonstrate that CD40L-CD40 interactions induce endothelial cell activation in vitro. Moreover, they suggest a mechanism by which activated CD4+ T cells may augment inflammatory responses in vivo by upregulating the expression of endothelial cell surface adhesion molecules.

scholarly journals Endothelial Activation in Orientia tsutsugamushi Infection Is Mediated by Cytokine Secretion From Infected Monocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiwit Tantibhedhyangkul ◽  
Sutthicha Matamnan ◽  
Asma Longkunan ◽  
Chawikan Boonwong ◽  
Ladawan Khowawisetsut
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Cytokine Secretion ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Chemokine Production ◽  
Delay In Diagnosis

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a common systemic infection in Asia. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to vasculitis in the visceral organs and other complications. The mechanisms that drive endothelial activation and the inflammatory response in O. tsutsugamushi infection remain unknown. In addition, the interaction between monocytes and endothelial cells is still unclear. Here we demonstrate that O. tsutsugamushi-infected human dermal microvascular endothelial cells produced moderate levels of chemokines and low levels of IL-6 and IFN-β, but not TNF or IL-1β. Recombinant TNF and cytokine-rich supernatants from infected monocytes markedly enhanced chemokine production in infected endothelial cells. We also show that TNF and monocyte supernatants, but not O. tsutsugamushi infection of endothelial cells per se, upregulated the endothelial cell surface expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, and tissue factor. This finding was consistent with the inability of O. tsutsugamushi to induce cytokine secretion from endothelial cells. The upregulation of surface molecules after stimulation with monocyte supernatants was significantly reduced by neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies. These results suggest that endothelial cell activation and response are mainly mediated by inflammatory cytokines secreted from monocytes.

scholarly journals Up-regulation of CD81 inhibits cytotrophoblast invasion and mediates maternal endothelial cell dysfunction in preeclampsia

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (8) ◽  
pp. 1940-1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Shen ◽  
Zhenyu Diao ◽  
Hai-Xiang Sun ◽  
Gui-Jun Yan ◽  
Zhiqun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Endothelial Cell Activation ◽  
Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Preeclampsia (PE) is initiated by abnormal placentation in the early stages of pregnancy, followed by systemic activation of endothelial cells of the maternal small arterioles in the late second or third trimester (TM) of pregnancy. During normal pregnancy, placental cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) invade the maternal uterine wall and spiral arteries, whereas this process is interrupted in PE. However, it is not known how the malformed placenta triggers maternal endothelial crisis and the associated manifestations. Here, we have focused on the association of CD81 with PE. CD81, a member of the tetraspanin superfamily, plays significant roles in cell growth, adhesion, and motility. The function of CD81 in human placentation and its association with pregnancy complications are currently unknown. In the present study, we have demonstrated that CD81 was preferentially expressed in normal first TM placentas and progressively down-regulated with gestation advance. In patients with early-onset severe PE (sPE), CD81 expression was significantly up-regulated in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), CTBs and the cells in the villous core. In addition, high levels of CD81 were observed in the maternal sera of patients with sPE. Overexpressing CD81 in CTBs significantly decreased CTB invasion, and culturing primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the presence of a high dose of exogenous CD81 resulted in interrupted angiogenesis and endothelial cell activation in vitro. Importantly, the phenotype of human PE was mimicked in the CD81-induced rat model.

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