Abstract
Objective—To determine the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) on vasoactive mediator production by cultured equine digital vein endothelial cells (EDVECs).
Sample Population—EDVECs obtained from forelimb digital veins of 7 healthy adult horses.
Procedures—EDVECs were incubated with or without LPS (1 μg/mL) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 22, and 24 hours. The EDVECs were incubated for 18 hours with LPS (10 pg/mL to 1 μg/mL) with or without ibuprofen, cycloheximide, or L-nitroarginine methyl ester. Medium concentrations of prostacyclin, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, endothelin-1, and thromboxane A2 were determined. Changes in inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression were determined.
Results—LPS stimulated mean 4.2- and 14.1-fold increases in EDVEC prostacyclin and cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, respectively, after 22 hours. These effects were LPS concentration–dependent (LPS concentrations that induced a response halfway between the maximum response and baseline of 1.50 and 1.22 ng/mL, respectively). The LPS-induced cyclic guanosine monophosphate production was significantly inhibited (to basal concentrations) by L-nitroarginine methyl ester, and prostacyclin production was inhibited by cycloheximide and ibuprofen. Production of thromboxane A2 by EDVECs was not detected. Endothelin-1 accumulated in the medium, but LPS did not enhance its production. Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in EDVECs was not detected with the available antibodies, whereas LPS stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—LPS stimulated vasoactive mediator production by equine endothelial cells, which may play a role in LPS-induced digital hypoperfusion.
