Endotoxin stimulates endothelin release from cultured epithelial cells of guinea-pig trachea.

We examined the release of endothelin from cultured epithelial cells of guinea-pig trachea in response to treatment with endotoxin, using a sandwich-enzyme immunoassay. Cultured epithelial cells released endothelin in a time-dependent fashion (3, 6, 12, 24 h), and endotoxin (4-40 micrograms/ml) significantly increased endothelin release. Endotoxin (4-10 micrograms/ml) showed no cytotoxicity against epithelial cells. These results suggest that guinea-pig airway epithelial cells are capable of producing endothelin and this peptide may be related to the pathophysiological effects of endotoxin.