Enhanced expression of P-selectin (CD62P) by endothelial cells seeded ontosynthetic arterial prostheses (PET, Dacron (R)) is correlated with leukocyte interactions

This study evaluated the expression by seeded endothelial cells (S-EC) of P -selectin (CD62P/GMP-140/PADGEM), an adhesion molecule implicated in endoth elial-leukocyte interactions. Endothelial cells were seeded onto knitted po lyethylene terephthalate (PET, Dacron(R)) prostheses and compared with cont rol endothelial cells (C-EC) cultured in flasks to the same stage. Using fl ow cytometry techniques, we observed that CD62P expression by PET S-EC was significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to C-EC. Moreover, RT PCR techn iques showed that the CD62P RNA level was higher on S-ECs compared to C-ECs . Following adhesion assays, increased polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) a ttachment to the PET-seeded prostheses as compared to control cultures (p < 0.001) was observed. PMN adherence was enhanced by TNF alpha activation. P MN adhesion was decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after the incubation of resting EC or TNF alpha-activated EC-seeded prostheses with a blocking mon oclonal antibody (LYP20) directed against the P-selectin. Such results sugg est that: (1) PET prosthetic material may induce the expression of P-select in by S-EC; (2) seeding conditions provoke an increase in PMN adhesion; (3) increased PMN interactions with seeded PET material is partially dependent upon P-selectin expression by the S-EC. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.