Tungsten treatment prevents tumor necrosis factor-induced injury of brain endothelial cells

Exposure to recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or calcium ionophore (A23187) for 4 h increased (P 0.05) LDH release from brain EC. Pretreatment with tungsten decreased (P< 0.05) xanthine oxidase activity in brain EC and decreased (P< 0.05) LDH release from brain EC following exposure to TNF. Our results suggest that TNF-α injures brain microvascular EC and that this effect may be mediated by xanthine oxidase.