The ability of sera from patients with SLE to stimulate endothelial cell prostacyclin
production was studied using a standardized assay system for testing the effects of
serum on cultured human endothelial cell monolayers. The effects of 20 normal and
32 SLE sera on endothelial prostacyclin production were measured. No differences between
the rates of prostacyclin production were seen between the two groups, either basally
or when prostacyclin release was stimulated with thrombin or bradykinin. In the SLE
samples there was no correlation between anticardiolipin IgG or IgM titres and their
ability to stimulate basal or agonist-induced prostacyclin release. These results
suggest that the elevated risk of thrombosis in SLE patients is not associated with
inhibition of endothelial cell prostacyclin synthesis.
Keywords
SLE - Prostacyclin - Endothelium - Lupus anticoagulant - Anticardiolipin antibodies