Effect of cocultured pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells on cytokine expressions in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells after hypoxic exposure

Objective To study the effect of hypoxia on the expressions of interleukin-1β, 4, 10, and 13 (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the regulative role of cocultured pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). Methods Rat PASMCs were cocultured with or without rat PMVECs, and randomly divided into 5 groups, normal group (N), 2-hour hypoxia (H2), 6-hour hypoxia (H6), 12-hour hypoxia (H12), and 24-hour hypoxia (H24). The expressions of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 in the supernatant were detected with ELISA. Results The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 was increased in H2 group, peaked in H6 group, and then decreased in H12 group. However, the expression levels of above-mentioned cytokines in cocultured groups were significantly lower than those in corresponding hypoxia group. Conclusion Hypoxia can enhance activities of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 in PASMCs, but this enhancement can be down-regulated by cocultured PMVECs.