Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is considered to be a mitogenic and chemotactic agent in cultured endothelial cells (ECs). The effect of recombinant granulocyte-macrophage (rGM-CSF) and granulocyte (rG-CSF) colony-stimulating factors on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) has been controversial.
Methods: HUVEC proliferation and the release of endothelial markers in HUVEC culture stimulated by rHuEPO, rGM-CSF and G-CSF were measured.
Results: We found the dose-dependent stimulating effect of rHuEPO and rGM-CSF on HUVEC proliferation, but we did not achieve this with rG-CSF. rHuEPO like rG-CSF was an effective agent in stimulating the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 release from HUVECs to a cultured medium, while rGM-CSF failed.
Conclusion: We suggest that rHuEPO showed prothrombotic changes in HUVEC culture. Our results support the idea of suspected rHuEPO direct prothrombotic role in haemodialysed patients treated with rHuEPO.