INTERACTION OF GRANULOCYTES AND ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS UPON STIMULATION WITH TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA - AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

By the production of microbicidal agents, such as reactive oxygen species, activated PMN are capable of inducing tissue damage in the host. TNF-alpha was recently shown to be a potent activator of PMN oxidative metabolism. To further evaluate the interaction between activated PMN with physiological target cells, the effect of human PMN on cultured bovine aortic and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) upon stimulation with human TNF-alpha was investigated by ultrastructural techniques: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM resp.) and ultrastructural detection of H-2O2 production. When isolated PMN were added to EC in the presence of recombinant human TNF-alpha (10(3) U/ml) the EC-monolayer was disrupted within 4 h and EC changed their shape by exhibiting a spindle-like structure. PMN were seen in the intercellular spaces. Release of H-2O2 was observed at the surface of the PMN plasma membrane, the luminal part of the small intracytoplasmic vacuoles in the PMN as well as in the contact zone between PMN and EC, but not within the EC. Scavengers of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase or D-mannitol failed to block the effect of TNF-alpha-stimulated PMN on EC. In contrast, addition of NaN3 (0.1 mM), an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase activity, almost completely inhibited the disruption of EC-monolayers. Subsequent addition of NaN3-insensitive horseadish peroxidase reconstituted the effect. The results obtained suggest that TNF-alpha-stimulated PMN effectively cause the disruption of EC monolayers by an adherence-dependent mechanism which is mediated by the release of myeloperoxidase. The results may be of major importance for the pathogenesis of inflammatory vascular reactions.