Av. Sterpetti et al., SHEAR-STRESS INCREASES THE RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN-1 AND INTERLEUKIN-6BY AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS, Surgery, 114(5), 1993, pp. 911-914
Background. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation bet
ween shear stress and the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleu
kin-6 (IL-6) by endothelial cells (EC). Methods. Bovine aortic EC were
seeded in fibronectin-coated cylinders at 1.0 X 10(6) cells/tube and
allowed to reach confluence and to adhere for 48 hours. The experiment
al groups were subjected to a laminar flow of 100 ml/min (6 dyne/cm2).
The control group was subjected to similar incubation conditions with
out flow. The release of IL-1 and IL-6 by EC was measured by enzyme-li
nked immunosorbent assay. Results. Shear stress increased significantl
y (p < 0.01) the release of IL-1 and IL-6 by EC. The release of these
two cytokines had different kinetics. Conclusions. Increasing shear st
ress facilitates release of IL-1 and IL-6 by EC. Previous reports have
shown that IL-1 and IL-6 promote vascular smooth-muscle cell prolifer
ation. Thus abnormal flow conditions with increasing shear stress may
predispose to smooth-muscle cell proliferation that characterizes earl
y atherosclerotic plaque development by an interleukin-mediated mechan
ism.