Bovine and human endothelial cell production of neutrophil chemoattractant activity in response to components of the angiotensin system.

Although there is growing evidence that angiotensin II affects macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses, it is unclear whether it can affect neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses. Because vascular endothelial cells are capable of releasing neutrophil chemoattractant activity, we attempted to determine whether components of the angiotensin system could affect neutrophil-mediated responses indirectly by stimulating endothelial cells to release neutrophil chemoattractant substances. Cultured bovine and human endothelial cells incubated with angiotensin II released neutrophil chemoattractant activity. This activity appeared within 1 minute of exposure to angiotensin II, and was blocked by saralasin, an angiotensin II antagonist. Angiotensin I also caused release of neutrophil chemoattractant activity, but its effect required conversion to angiotensin II. Bradykinin, another substrate for angiotensin-converting enzyme, did not stimulate appearance of chemoattractant. Chemoattractant generation was not inhibited by indomethacin but was blocked by diethylcarbamazine and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid. This study demonstrates that angiotensin II may influence neutrophil accumulation, via production of neutrophil chemoattractant activity by vascular endothelial cells.