Tumor necrosis factor inhibits the proliferation of cultured capillary endothelial cells.

We have examined the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on the proliferation of capillary endothelial cells derived from brain or adrenal cortex. In both cell types, TNF inhibits basal as well as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-stimulated cell proliferation. TNF induces an additional cytotoxic effect in bFGF-stimulated, but not in unstimulated, capillary endothelial cells. These results suggest that TNF could act as a negative regulator of angiogenesis in vivo and further, that TNF might induce selective cytotoxicity of capillary endothelial cells stimulated by tumor-derived bFGF. These results could explain why TNF induces hemorrhagic necrosis of certain, solid tumors.