Inflammatory cytokines induce endothelial cells to produce and release basic fibroblast growth factor and to promote Kaposi's sarcoma-like lesions in nude mice.

Inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma are increased in sera and lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients. Previous data have indicated that the combination of these cytokines as found in conditioned media from activated T cells induces normal endothelial cells to acquire the features of KS spindle cells (KS cells) including spindle morphology, marker expression, and the responsiveness to the effects of HIV-1 Tat protein. Conditioned media from activated T cells or the single cytokines also induce AIDS-KS cells to produce and release basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). bFGF is highly expressed also by in situ KS cells and mediates KS-like lesion formation after inoculation of the cells in nude mice. Here we show that both large and small vessel endothelial cells chronically exposed to inflammatory cytokines produce and release bioactive bFGF in the absence of cell death. In addition, after this treatment, endothelial cells acquire angiogenic capability and induce KS-like lesions after inoculation in nude mice. Production and release of bFGF is induced in a synergistic fashion by TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma, and its release is further promoted by low cell density and by the serine proteases plasmin and thrombin. These results indicate that inflammatory cytokines induce endothelial cells to export bFGF and to acquire angiogenic properties, a key feature of the KS cell phenotype, and suggest a mechanism by which these cytokines can cooperate in the induction of KS.