Endothelial cells and macrophages are located within the hepatic sinusoids. These two cell types play an important role in the clearance of bacterially derived lipopolysaccharide from the portal circulation. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that treatment of rats with lipopolysaccharide results in the accumulation of macrophages in the liver that display properties of activated mononuclear phagocytes. This study was designed to analyze the effects of lipopolysaccharide on hepatic endothelial cells. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 5 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide. Macrophages and endothelial cells were isolated from the rats 48 hr later by in situ perfusion of the liver with collagenase and pronase followed by differential centrifugation and centrifugal elutriation. We found that lipopolysaccharide treatment of rats resulted in an increase in the number of both macrophages and endothelial cells recovered from the liver. Using specific monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, both macrophages and endothelial cells were found to express cell surface markers for Ia antigen, leukocyte common antigen, CD4 and the macrophage antigen, ED2. Macrophages expressed greater levels of these markers than endothelial cells. Flow cytometric analysis also revealed considerable subpopulation heterogeneity in the endothelial cells in antigen expression, physical characteristics and functional activity. Treatment of rats with lipopolysaccharide decreased expression of cell surface markers on the macrophages but not on the endothelial cells. This may be due to the distinct origin of these cells. To determine whether endothelial cells, like macrophages, were activated by lipopolysaccharide, we examined their ability to produce reactive oxygen intermediates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Receptor occupancy measurements demonstrate the binding of a biotherapeutic agent to its extracellular target and represent an integral component of the pharmacodynamic (PD) portfolio utilized to advance the development and commercialization of a therapeutic agent. Coupled with traditional pharmacokinetic (PK) assessments derived from serum drug concentration, receptor occupancy data can be used to model PK/PD relationships and validate dose selection decisions throughout the drug development lifecycle. Receptor occupancy assays can be even more challenging to develop than other flow cytometric methods (e.g. surface immunophenotyping). In addition to typical considerations regarding stability of the cell type of interest, stability of the target-bound therapeutic agent and stability of the target receptor must be taken into account. Reagent selection is also challenging as reagents need to be evaluated for the potential to compete with the therapeutic agent and bind with comparable affinity. This article provides technical guidance for the development and validation of cytometry-based receptor occupancy assays. V C 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society

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