CD40L-CD40 interactions regulate endothelial cell surface tissue factor and thrombomodulin expression

J Leukoc Biol. 1998 Mar;63(3):373-9. doi: 10.1002/jlb.63.3.373.

Abstract

During immune responses, activated endothelial cells down-regulate thrombomodulin and up-regulate tissue factor expression leading to the development of a procoagulant surface. CD4+ T cells are known to promote endothelial cell procoagulant activity, however, the molecular interactions that mediate this effect are not completely known. CD40L is an activation-induced CD4+ T cell surface molecule that functionally interacts with CD40 expressed on endothelial cells. In this study we ask if CD40L-CD40 interactions modulate endothelial cell surface tissue factor or thrombomodulin expression in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cocultured with control cells or CD40L+ Jurkat T cells in the presence or absence of anti-CD40L mAb. By two-color FACS analysis we demonstrated that CD40 ligation induces HUVEC tissue factor expression and thrombomodulin down-regulation. Utilizing neutralizing antibodies, we show that CD40L-mediated tissue factor and thrombomodulin modulation, as well as E-selectin and VCAM-1 upregulation, is independent of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1alpha, or interleukin-1beta production. Together these data suggest that CD40L-CD40 interactions may directly regulate endothelial cell procoagulant activity during inflammatory responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology*
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Cell Membrane / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-1 / immunology
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Thrombomodulin / biosynthesis*
  • Thromboplastin / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Umbilical Veins

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Interleukin-1
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Thrombomodulin
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Thromboplastin