Cytokine expression in vitro by cultured human endothelial cells in contact with polyethylene terephthalate coated with pyrolytic carbon and collagen

In order to evaluate whether or not polyethylene terephthalate coated with pyrolytic carbon and collagen (PET+PC) favors inflammatory or hyperplastic reactions, the expression of mRNAs specific for interleukin-6 (IL-6), plate let-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A), PDGF-B, transforming growth factor-be ta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and TGF-beta 2 were tested in vitro by cultured human um bilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The cultures were put in contact wi th PET+PC for 1, 24, 48, and 72 h. The same cells cultured on polystyrene w ithout biomaterials were tested as negative controls; cultures incubated wi th LPS were the positive control. The expression of mRNAs was evaluated by RT-PCR with specific primers. PET+PC did not determine any differences in t he expression of IL-6-specific mRNA at any of the incubation times compared to the negative control while LPS (the positive control) induced expressio n after 24, 48, and 72 h. PET+PC induced a more precocious expression of mR NA specific for PDGF-A than did the negative control; however, the expressi on no longer was present after 48 h while in the negative control the expre ssion stopped after 72 h. PET+PC induced a less frequent expression of PDGF -B-specific mRNA than did the negative control and LPS, especially after 24 h. PET+PC induced a later expression of TGF-beta 2-specific mRNA than did the negative control and a less frequent expression of mRNA specific for TG F-beta 1 after 24 and 72 h. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.