Lack of ability to synthesize tissue factor by endothelial cells in intact human saphenous veins

It is well established that cultured endothelial cells are induced to generate tissue factor activity when incubated with either endotoxin or thrombin. In this study a perfusion system was used on 3-4 cm long human saphenous veins. The veins were perfused with thrombin (2.5 U/ml), endotoxin (30 ng/ml) or just medium for 3 h at 37 degrees C. After the perfusion, the veins were treated with collagenase, and EC were collected and subjected to tissue factor activity measurements. Some perfused veins were examined for tissue factor activity on the vessel wall by allowing factor VII and factor X to interact with the lumen of the intact vessels, followed by quantitation of generated factor Xa in a chromogenic assay. No formation of tissue factor activity could be found after perfusion in either collagenase-dissolved endothelial cells or in the coupled chromogenic assay for tissue factor activity performed in the lumen of the vessel. Our data strongly suggest that endothelial cells in intact endothelium may behave quite differently from isolated endothelial cells stimulated in cell cultures.