Abstract
Human endothelial cells (ECs) are heterogeneous, although little is known regarding regional variations in their regulation of vascular tone. This study compares activation of the key enzyme phospholipase D (PLD) by the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II (AII) and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), and the vasodilator insulin, in primary human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). PLD activity was measured by [3H]phosphatidylethanol production in cells labeled with [3H]myristic acid. AII maximally activated PLD in both cell types at 1 nmol/L. AII also significantly activated PLD at 100 pmol/L in HUVECS but not in HMVECs. LysoPC dose dependently activated PLD in both cell types, although HUVECs were more sensitive to the agonist; being significantly activated by 10 μmol/L lysoPC and displaying an approximately sevenfold greater PLD activity with 20 μmol/L lysoPC compared to HMVECs. Insulin significantly increased PLD activity in both cell types with maximum activation at 1 nmol/L. Again differential sensitivity was observed; 10 nmol/L insulin significantly stimulated PLD in HUVECs but not HMVECs. Differential sensitivity of PLD activation in human endothelial cells from different vascular beds in response to vasoactive agents was observed, with the HUVECs displaying greater sensitivity to vasoconstricting agents than HMVECs.