Hydrogen peroxide stimulates endocytosis in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Fluid-phase uptake of macromolecules by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was measured using FITC-dextran (70,000 Da). Low doses of hydrogen peroxide added extracellularly stimulated the uptake of macromolecules by the endothelial cells. There was no general increase in the passive permeation or the transport across the cell layer. Moreover, when endothelial cells were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), macromolecules uptake was also enhanced. The PMA effect was blocked with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, suggesting a pivotal role of oxygen metabolites in fluid phase uptake of macromolecules by endothelial cells.