Effect of carbon-coated polyethylene terephthalate on prostacyclin releaseby endothelial cells stimulated with arachidonic acid in vitro

The production of 6-keto prostaglandin F-1 alpha (6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)), sta ble metabolyte of prostacyclin, by cultured human endothelial cells in cont act with carbon- and collagen-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PC), was a ssessed by enzyme immunoassay. As control material, tissue culture-treated polystyrene was used. The cultures were put in contact with the materials f or 48 h and then were stimulated with 0.1 mM arachidonic acid for 3 h. The stimulation induced a highly significant increase of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) in the cultures in contact with the control material. PC induced only insigni ficant variations in stimulated cultures compared to unstimulated ones. In conclusion, PC determined a decrease in the endothelial cell response to st imulation with arachidonic acid.