In vivo microdialysis sampling of cytokines produced in mice given bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Cytokines are proteins that mediate communication between cells of the immune system as well as certain other non-immune host cells. These proteins are produced by many cell types and they mediate immune and inflammatory responses. However, the direct site analysis of these critical proteins is hampered by the lack of site-specific tools available for such direct measurements.

TNF-alpha disruption of lung endothelial integrity: reduced integrin mediated adhesion to fibronectin.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) causes an increase in transendothelial protein permeability of confluent monolayers of calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cells, and the addition of plasma fibronectin (pFn) to the culture medium can attenuate this increase in permeability. We determined if reduced integrin function had a role in decreased endothelial cell adhesion to immobilized Fn after exposure of the endothelial monolayers to TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha also causes a reorganization of the subendothelial Fn rich matrix and a significant loss in RGD-dependent adhesion of TNF-alpha treated CPAE cells to pFn coated surfaces.