Test of endothelial monolayer integrity in the presence or absence of endotoxin and anti-tnf-a monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

Monolayer cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were established and tested for the effects of endotoxin treatment and anti-TNF-a monoclonal antibodies following endotoxin treatment on albumin permeability and electrical conductance. Application of 40 -g(ml)-1 of endotoxin on human umbilical cord endothelial cell culture monolayer increased transendothelial albumin permeability significantly (P<0.001) and decreased transendothelial electrical resistances significantly (P<0.001). When 10 -g(ml)-1 of anti-TNF-a monoclonal antibodies was added after endotoxin, the effects of the latter on albumin permeability and electrical resistance were significantly decreased (P<0.001). This suggested that the monolayer sheet can be disturbed by endotoxin-induced TNF-a from endothelial cells. TNF-a can disintegrate the endothelial cell monolayer during septicemia. This can be abrogated using anti-TNF-a monoclonal antibodies.

SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 24, No. 1 (June 2001), pp. 105-112




Key words/phrases: Anti-TNF-a monoclonal antibodies, electrical resistance, endothelial monolayer, endotoxin, permeability