Arterial and Venous Endothelia Display Differential Functional Fractalkine (CX 3 CL1) Expression by Angiotensin-II

Objective— Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) promotes the interaction of mononuclear cells with arterioles and neutrophils with postcapillary venules. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this dissimilar response, the involvement of fractalkine (CX 3 CL1) was explored. Methods and Results— Enhanced CX 3 CL1 expression was detected in both cremasteric arterioles and postcapillary venules 24 hours after Ang-II intrascrotal injection. Arteriolar leukocyte adhesion was the unique parameter significantly reduced (83%) in animals lacking CX 3 CL1 receptor (CX 3 CR1). Human umbilical arterial and venous endothelial cell stimulation with 1 μmol/L Ang-II increased CX 3 CL1 expression, yet neutralization …