The Role of the Microtubules in Tumor Necrosis Factor- –Induced Endothelial Cell Permeability

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a major proinflammatory cytofilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules (3). Tukine, triggers endothelial cell activation and barrier dysfunction mor necrosis factor (TNF), a proinflammatory cytokine which are implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema secreted by macrophages and endothelial cells, has been associated with acute lung injury syndromes. The mechanisms implicated in endothelial cell activation, increased endotheof TNF–induced vascular permeability are not completely unlial cell permeability, and pulmonary edema formation (4, 5). derstood. Our initial experiments demonstrated that TNF– However, the exact mechanisms by which TNFtriggers induced decreases in transendothelial electrical resistance across vascular barrier dysfunction are not precisely defined. We human pulmonary artery endothelial cells are independent of and others have noted that TNFinduces endothelial actin myosin light chain phosphorylation catalyzed by either myosin microfilament rearrangement and intercellular gap formalight chain kinase or Rho kinase. We next assessed the involve-