Hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulates endothelial cells to promote interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 production. Effects of free radical scavengers

Vascular endothelium produces and/or interferes with various cytokines. Previous studies have demonstrated interactions of these inflammatory and immunological mediators with oxygen-derived free radicals. The present work examines the relationship between hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and cytokine production by cultured endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers were incubated for 24 h in normoxia or submitted to 5 h hypoxia/19 h reoxygenation. Then, interleukin-1 (IL-1) α and β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were measured in culture supernatants by specific enzyme immunoassays and bioassays, respectively.