Cytokine stimulated endothelin release from endothelial cells

Abstract Endothelin release from bovine endothelial cells of the aorta, pulmonary artery, and retinal microvessels was measured in response to various cytokines. Transforming growth factorβ (0.05–5 ng/ml) was found to be a potent stimulator (3–4 fold increase) of endothelin secretion in all three cell types. Tumour necrosis factorα (0.1–10 ng/ml) and interferonγ (8–800 U/ml) had a small (1.5–2 fold increase) but significant effect on endothelin secretion from endothelial cells of large vessels but not the retinal microvessels. Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 at various doses did not affect endothelin secretion. These effects were observed at various time points from 6–24 hrs and indicate that of the cytokines tested, only transforming growth factor β has a potent effect on endothelin release from endothelial cells of different organs.