Immunogold staining of primary cultures of human brain microvessel endothelial cells demonstrated the presence of Factor VIII-related antigen within cytoplasmic vesicles in dose association with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Immunoperoxidase staining, at the light microscopic level, revealed a similar granular, perinuclear staining. The morphology and location of these vesicular profiles indicate that they are part of the trans-Golgi region where terminal processing and short-term storage of Factor VIII-related antigen takes place. Weibel-Palade bodies, specific storage organelles for von Willebrand factor in large vessel endothelium, were not observed in cerebral microvessel endothelium. The release of Factor VIII-related antigen from the cytoplasmic vesicles was influenced by some of the factors known to stimulate or inhibit the regulated pathway of secretion from Weibel-Palade bodies. Thus, stimulation of endothelial cells with calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in almost complete loss of staining, while addition of EGTA to the culture medium led to slight increase of intracellular pools of Factor VIII-related antigen. Pre-incubation of monolayers with interferon-gamma was associated with significant increase in the number of labeled vesicles, suggesting an additional role of this cytokine in the localized immune reaction within the central nervous system.
