Albumin transfer across cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers was studied at different concentrations of luminal and interstitial albumin. Increased interstitial and luminal albumin concentrations increased the rates of transfer of albumin from interstitium to lumen and lumen to interstitium, respectively. Interstitial-to-luminal albumin clearance reached a maximum rate at 725 microM interstitial albumin. The clearance of dextran from interstitium to lumen also increased when interstitial-to-luminal albumin clearance increased, suggesting that albumin was not transferred alone across the endothelium. The increase in interstitial-to-luminal albumin clearance did not occur in the absence of endothelial cells, at 4 degrees C, or when dextran or dextran sulfate sodium were added to the interstitial compartment. These data demonstrate that albumin concentrations can influence the rates of endothelial albumin transfer and that albumin can be transported across the endothelium by a process mediated by endothelial cells.