Expression of phagocyte nadph oxidase components in human endothelial cells. Jonesa, Simon A., Valerie B. O'donnell, Jonathan D. Wooda, Jonathan. P. Broughton, Eleanor. J. Hughes & Owen. T. G. Jones. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K., Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland
APStracts 3:0117H, 1996.
Low level generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by endothelial cells in response to a variety of stimuli has been observed, however the enzyme system responsible is unknown. Using a variety of techniques, we examined for components of the phagocyte superoxide -generating NADPH oxidase in order to elucidate whether this enzyme could be a source of endothelial-derived ROS. Superoxide generation on addition of 100[mu]M NAD(P)H to HUVEC sonicates (using lucigenin -enhanced chemiluminescence) was partially inhibited on addition of the flavoenzyme inhibitor, diphenyliodonium (IDP). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated expression of gp91-phox, p22-phox, p67-phox and p47-phox in four independent human umbilical vein endothelial cell isolates. Expression of p22-phox was also confirmed by northern blotting. RT -PCR for TNF[alpha] was negative, indicating an absence of mononuclear cell contamination (a potential source of NADPH oxidase). Immunoperoxidase staining, using anti p47-phox (JW-1) and anti p67 -phox (JW-2) specific antibodies, showed protein expression of these cytosolic components. However haem spectroscopy failed to indicate the presence of the low potential cytochrome b558. These data indicate that cultured human endothelial cells express both mRNA and protein for cytosolic components of the phagocyte superoxide -generating NADPH oxidase. However since the cytochrome b558 haem could not be conclusively demonstrated, a contribution of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase to endothelial oxidant generation may be unlikely.

Received 14 February 1995; accepted in final form 22 February
1996.
APS Manuscript Number H139-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 March 96