Prostacyclin and prostaglandin E2 secretions by bovine pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells are altered by changes in culture conditions.

The isolation and culture of pulmonary microvascular endothelial (MVE) cells from bovine lungs were established. Primary and early passaged cultures grew best in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% equine plasma-derived serum, bovine retinal growth extract (1%), and heparin (90 micrograms/ml) on gelatin coated plates. A second tissue culture procedure was prepared in which the isolation technique was the same except the culture medium consisted of DMEM supplemented with 10% plasma-derived serum. Either growth medium produced homogeneous, long term, serial cultures for up to 16 passages. MVE cells were characterized in part based on their morphology by light and electron microscopy and positive reaction to Factor VIII-related antigen and uptake of 1,1'-dioctacecyl-1,3,3,3'3-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate acetylated low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL). MVE cells were also positive for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and the presence of ACE was localized on the cells by indirect immunofluorescence. MVE cells maintained in the presence of heparin and growth factor principally synthesized prostaglandin (PG) E2 (1512 +/- 159 pg/mg protein at 15 min) and smaller amounts of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (Tx) A2 (316 +/- 43 and 588 +/- 105 pg/mg protein/15 min respectively) as measured by radioimmunoassay. However, prostanoid release was not elevated from basal levels upon incubation with arachidonic acid, bradykinin, or ionophore A23187. In contrast, MVE cells cultured without heparin and growth factor secreted more PGI2 than PGE2 (862 +/- 84 and 89 +/- 12 respectively). Incubation with arachidonic acid, bradykinin, or ionophore A23187 induced significant increases in PGI2 and PGE2 production (P less than 0.01). Pulmonary artery endothelial (PAE) cell cultures used as a control for comparison predominantly synthesized PGI2. These findings suggest that in vitro the vessel source and culture conditions may qualitatively and quantitatively affect the pattern and levels of prostanoid synthesized and secreted.