Serum stimulation of prostacyclin synthesis in aortically, venously and microvascularly derived endothelial cells

The existence of factors in plasma and/or serum that can stimulate prostacyclin production in endothelial cells has been reported. An absence or deficiency of these factors has been suggested as a contributory factor in certain disease states involving microvascular thrombosis. The ability of aortic, venous and microvascular-derived endothelial cells to respond to serum stimulation was investigated. All of the endothelial cells were stimulated by serum, regardless of their origin. However, the microvascular cells produced the least amount of prostacyclin and the venous cells produced the most.