Modulation of the IL-1 cytokine network in keratinocytes by intracellular IL-1 alpha and IL-1 receptor antagonist

Inflammasome involvement in CS-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes

Cigarette smoke (CS) alters cutaneous biological processes such as redox homeostasis and inflammation response that might be involved in promoting skin inflammatory conditions. Exposure to CS has also been linked to a destabilization of the NLRP3 inflammasome in pollution target tissues such as the lung epithelium, resulting in a more vulnerable immunological response to several exogenous and endogenous stimuli related to oxidative stress. Thus, CS has an adverse effect on host defense, increasing the susceptibility to develop lung infections and pathologies. In the skin, another direct target of pollution, inflammasome disorders have been linked to an increasing number of diseases such as melanoma, psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and acne, all conditions that have been connected directly or indirectly to pollution exposure. The inflammasome machinery is an important innate immune sensor in human keratinocytes. However, the role of CS in the NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in the cutaneous barrier has still not been investigated. In the present study, we were able to determine in keratinocytes exposed to CS an increased oxidative damage evaluated by 4-HNE protein adduct and carbonyl formation. Of note is that, while CS inhibited NLRP3 activation, it was able to activate NLRP1, leading to an increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. This study highlights the importance of the inflammasome machinery in CS that more in general, in pollution, affects cutaneous tissues and the important cross-talk between different members of the NLRP inflammasome family.

IL-1/IL-1R Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer

Decades ago, the study of cancer biology was mainly focused on the tumor itself, paying little attention to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Currently, it is well recognized that the TME plays a vital role in cancer development and progression, with emerging treatment strategies focusing on different components of the TME, including tumoral cells, blood vessels, fibroblasts, senescent cells, inflammatory cells, inflammatory factors, among others. There is a well-accepted relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer development. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine commonly found at tumor sites, is considered one of the most important inflammatory factors in cancer, and has been related with carcinogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Increasing evidence has linked development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with chronic inflammation, and particularly, with IL-1 signaling. This review focuses on the most important members of the IL-1 family, with emphasis on how their aberrant expression can promote HNSCC development and metastasis, highlighting possible clinical applications.

Quantification of Cytokines in Lip Tissue from Infants Affected by Congenital Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and palate are amongst the most common congenital malformations worldwide presenting with variable manifestations. Previous research has been primarily focused on the genetical aspects of its complex and multifactorial etiology. In the present study, we investigated the role of cytokines as mediators of epithelial–mesenchymal crosstalk and local site inflammation in cleft affected infants. Lip material was obtained from 12 children aged before primary dentition who suffered from orofacial clefting. The quantification of 12 cytokines (Interleukin-2,4,5,6,10,12,13,17A, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interferon-γ, Transforming Growth Factor beta-1 and Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) was done using ELISA. Nonparametric Spearman Rho was used to ascertain the correlation between the expression levels of different cytokines. A significantly strong positive correlation was found between IL-2 and IFN-γ coupled with an IL4/IFN-γ ratio favoring IFN-γ. These findings indicate a shift towards the preferential activation of the Th1 differentiation pathway. Further, a pathological reduction in TGFβ-1 levels was noted, which may contribute to mucosal damage. IL-6 was more highly correlated to IFN-γ and IL-12 indicating its potential proinflammatory role in cleft affected tissues. This preferential activation of Th1 cell differentiation and consistent expression of IL-2,6,13 and TNF-α in cleft patients may indicate certain underlying mechanisms for inflammation mediation at the site of clefting.

Interleukin-1α Induction in Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT): An In Vitro Model for Chemoprevention in Skin

Long-term exposure to UV irradiation and toxic chemicals is associated with chronic inflammation that contributes to skin cancer development with interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), constitutively produced by keratinocytes, playing a pivotal role in skin inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulation of IL-1α production in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to induce IL-1α in HaCaT cells, and this might be associated with the specific deficiency known to affect downstream signalling of the MEK/ERK pathway in these cells. The calcium ionophore, ionomycin, slightly enhanced the production of intracellular (icIL-1α), but this resulted in a necrotic release at higher concentrations. UV-B exposure significantly increased the production of icIL-1α in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal induction exhibited at 24 h with minimal necrotic and apoptotic effects. Validation of the HaCaT cell model indicated that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen, and the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, inhibited icIL-1α production, and this was associated with a slight inhibition of cell viability. The UV-B-induced keratinocyte cell model provides an in vitro system that could, apart from phorbol ester-like compounds, be utilised as a screening assay in identifying skin irritants and/or therapeutic topical agents via the modulation of IL-1α production.

Syk/Src pathway-targeted inhibition of skin inflammatory responses by carnosic acid

Carnosic acid (CA) is a diterpene compound exhibiting antioxidative, anticancer, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-metabolic disorder, and hepatoprotective and neuroprotective activities. In this study, the effect of CA on various skin inflammatory responses and its inhibitory mechanism were examined. CA strongly suppressed the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 from keratinocyte HaCaT cells stimulated with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and retinoic acid (RA). In addition, CA blocked the release of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) from RAW264.7 cells activated by the toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 ligands, Gram-positive bacterium-derived peptidoglycan (PGN) and pam3CSK, and the TLR4 ligand, Gram-negative bacterium-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). CA arrested the growth of dermatitis-inducing Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms such Propionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. CA also blocked the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and its upstream signaling including Syk/Src, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) kinase (IKK), and IκBα for NF-κB activation. Kinase assays revealed that Syk could be direct enzymatic target of CA in its anti-inflammatory action. Therefore, our data strongly suggest the potential of CA as an anti-inflammatory drug against skin inflammatory responses with Src/NF-κB inhibitory properties.

Keratin 17 promotes epithelial proliferation and tumor growth by polarizing the immune response in skin

Basaloid skin tumors, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and basaloid follicular hamartoma (BFH), are associated with aberrant Hedgehog (Hh) signaling1 and, in the case of BCC, an expanding set of genetic variants including keratin 5 (K5)2, an intermediate filament-forming protein. We show that genetic ablation of keratin 17 (K17) protein, which is induced in basaloid skin tumors3,4 and co-polymerizes with K5 in vivo5, delays BFH tumor initiation and growth in mice with constitutive Hh signaling in epidermis6,7. The delay is preceded by reduced inflammation and a polarization of inflammatory cytokines from a Th1/Th17- to a Th2-dominated profile. Absence of K17 also attenuates hyperplasia and inflammation in a model of acute dermatitis. Re-expression of K17 in Gli2^tg K17^−/− keratinocytes induces select Th1 chemokines with established roles in BCC. Our findings establish a novel immunomodulatory role for K17 in Hh-driven basaloid skin tumors that could impact additional tumor settings, psoriasis, and wound repair.

Regulation of interleukin-1alpha expression by integrins and epidermal growth factor receptor in keratinocytes from a mouse model of inflammatory skin disease

Transgenic mice expressing beta1 integrins in the suprabasal epidermal layers have sporadic skin hyperproliferation and inflammation correlated with activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) mitogen-activated protein kinase and increased interleukin (IL)-1alpha production. We investigated the link between aberrant integrin expression, Erk activation, and expression of IL-1alpha. Transgenic keratinocytes had higher basal Erk activity and IL-1alpha levels than nontransgenic controls and were more sensitive to stimulation of Erk activity and IL-1alpha production by IL-1alpha, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and serum. Inhibition of Erk in transgenic keratinocytes reduced basal IL-1alpha levels and the stimulation of IL-1alpha production by serum or phorbol ester, demonstrating that Erk could regulate IL-1alpha expression. TPA or IL-1alpha treatment resulted in rapid down-regulation of the EGF receptor in transgenic cells, indicative of transactivation. Inhibition of transactivation blocked basal and TPA or IL-1alpha induced Erk activation, but not IkappaBalpha degradation, and abolished increased IL-1alpha production in transgenic cells. In transgene-negative cells, constitutive activation of IL-1-dependent signaling by wild type or kinase-dead IRAK1 stimulated IL-1alpha production independent of Erk. We conclude that suprabasal integrin expression leads to Erk activation and increased IL-1alpha expression by potentiating activation of the EGF receptor. These results provide a mechanism by which aberrant integrin expression triggers epidermal hyperproliferation and inflammation.

Interferon-gamma, a strong suppressor of cell proliferation, induces upregulation of keratin K6, one of the inflammatory- and proliferation-associated keratins

Keratin K6 is known as an inflammatory and hyperproliferative keratin, and is induced by an inflammatory and hyperproliferative agent. In this study, we demonstrated that interferon-gamma, an antiproliferative agent, also induces keratin K6. We used normal human ex vivo skin, normal human cultured keratinocytes, HaCaT keratinocytes, and DJM cells to examine the induction of K6 by interferon-gamma, by immunohistochemical staining, Western blot analysis, promoter chloramphenicol acetyl transferase assay, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of mRNA. We succeeded in demonstrating the induction of keratin K6 by interferon-gamma in ex vivo human skin and HaCaT keratinocytes at the protein and message level, and in cultured normal human keratinocytes at the promoter level. The inhibition of the signal transducing activator of transcription 1 pathway by a dominant-negative transfer gene caused the inhibition of K6 induction by interferon-gamma, and the blocking of nuclear factor kappaB using antisense oligonucleotides also inhibited the K6 induction. We also blocked the released interleukin-1alpha from keratinocytes after stimulation with interferon-gamma by neutralizing antibodies, which showed a decrease in the K6 induction. Our results suggest that a small amount of interleukin-1alpha, which cannot induce K6 by itself, is secreted upon stimulation by interferon-gamma, and that the induction of K6 occurs through the synergistic effect of the interferon-gamma/signal transducing activator of transcription 1 and interleukin-1alpha/nuclear factor kappaB pathways. This is the first report to describe K6 induction in epidermal keratinocytes by interferon-gamma and indicate a probable signal transduction pathway, and demonstrates that K6 is a possible partner of K17 in the inflammatory process.

IL-1ra and IL-1 production in human oral mucosal epithelial cells in culture: differential modulation by TGF-beta1 and IL-4

Regulatory cytokines mediate the participation of oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMEC) in local immune responses. The aim of this study was to characterize the isoforms of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in cultured human primary OMECs and to compare its production with that of IL-1 alpha (IL-1alpha) and IL-1 beta (IL-1beta). Western blot analysis showed that IL-1ra was 22 kDa in size hence slightly smaller than monocyte IL-1ra (25 kDa). A minor form of 20 kDa was also found in unstimulated cell culture lysates. In culture supernatants, IL-1 bioactivity increased after IL-1ra neutralization, indicating that the baseline production of IL-1ra is biologically relevant. Immunohistochemistry showed a relation between IL-1ra and involucrin expressions, suggesting that intracytoplasmic IL-1ra may be involved in cell terminal differentiation. In unstimulated culture lysates, there was far more IL-1ra than IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. TGF-beta1 markedly increased the IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratio from 93.6 : 1 to 300 : 1. IL-4, which is generally described as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, increased IL-1 but not IL-1ra production. TNF-alpha increased intracellular production of the three IL-1 members. IL-1ra levels were lower in supernatants than in lysates of cultured cells. Our results show that human OMECs constitutively produce significant amounts of a biologically active form of IL-1ra. TGF-beta1 mu(p)-regulation points to a positive amplification loop and IL-4 to a down-regulation loop, both including Th2 cells and OMECs. They may be important in oral tolerance and IgA production, respectively.

Ultraviolet light induced injury: immunological and inflammatory effects

This article reviews many of the complex events that occur after cutaneous ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The inflammatory changes of acute exposure of the skin include erythema (sunburn), the production of inflammatory mediators, alteration of vascular responses and an inflammatory cell infiltrate. Damage to proteins and DNA accumulates within skin cells and characteristic morphological changes occur in keratinocytes and other skin cells. When a cell becomes damaged irreparably by UV exposure, cell death follows via apoptotic mechanisms. Alterations in cutaneous and systemic immunity occur as a result of the UV-induced inflammation and damage, including changes in the production of cytokines by keratinocytes and other skin-associated cells, alteration of adhesion molecule expression and the loss of APC function within the skin. These changes lead to the generation of suppressor T cells, the induction of antigen-specific immunosuppression and a lowering of cell-mediated immunity. These events impair the immune system's capacity to reject highly antigenic skin cancers. This review gives an overview of the acute inflammatory and immunological events associated with cutaneous UV exposure, which are important to consider before dealing with the complex interactions that occur with chronic UV exposure, leading to photocarcinogenesis.

Intracellular IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Is Elevated in Human Dermal Fibroblasts That Overexpress Intracellular Precursor IL-1α

Cultured dermal fibroblasts from systemic sclerosis patients express higher levels of intracellular IL-1α than fibroblasts from healthy controls. In this study, we found that systemic sclerosis dermal fibroblasts also express higher levels of the intracellular isoform of IL-1 receptor antagonist (icIL-1Ra) than normal fibroblasts after stimulation with IL-1β or TNF-α. A possible relationship between elevated precursor IL-1α (preIL-1α) and elevated icIL-1Ra was investigated by transducing normal dermal fibroblasts to overexpress preIL-1α, preIL-1β, or icIL-1Ra. Fibroblasts that overexpressed icIL-1Ra did not have elevated levels of IL-1α. On the other hand, fibroblasts that overexpressed preIL-1α had at least 4-fold higher basal levels of icIL-1Ra than control fibroblasts and 4-fold higher levels of icIL-1Ra after induction with IL-1β or TNF-α. Fibroblasts overexpressing preIL-1β did not exhibit elevated icIL-1Ra. The differences in icIL-1Ra protein levels were reflected in differences in mRNA. In contrast, IL-1-stimulated levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 were not different in control and preIL-1α-transduced fibroblasts. Addition of neutralizing anti-IL-1α Abs to fibroblast cultures did not diminish basal or stimulated levels of icIL-1Ra in the preIL-1α-transduced cells, supporting an intracellular site of action of preIL-1α. This is the first report of an association between intracellular levels of these IL-1 family members. We hypothesize that intracellular preIL-1α participates in the regulation of icIL-1Ra.

Artificial human skin: cytokine, prostaglandin, Hsp70 and histological responses to heat exposure

Artificial human skin, Skin2 (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) and EpiDerm (keratinocytes), was used to determine heat-induced release/accumulation of mediators of injury and repair. Skin2 was exposed to 37 or 41-45 degrees C for 90 min, followed by 37 degrees C for 22.5 h. Media were analyzed for interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), thromboxane-B2 (TxB2) and nuclear matrix apparatus protein (NMAP, viability). Specimens were taken for microscopy. Media and lysates from Skin2 and EpiDerm (37 and 45 degrees C) were analyzed for IL-1alpha, its soluble receptor (sIL-1RII), receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and heat shock protein-70A (lysates only). Significant release of IL-1alpha and PGE2 was detected only above 43 degrees C, where viability deteriorated and histological damage (especially to keratinocytes) was observed. With both skin products, sIL-1RII release was heat-depressed. IL-1alpha and IL-1Ra were elevated in media and IL-1Ra appeared to lower the bioactivity of IL-1alpha. Heat depressed IL-6 release from Skin2 fibroblasts. IL-6 production and release were negligible with EpiDerm. Heat increased Hsp-70A in both products. We conclude keratinocytes and fibroblasts are not primary cytokine and prostaglandin sources in heatstroke (< 44 degrees C) but could be in evaporative cooling failure, focal hot spots, or systemic responses. Levels of IL-1Ra, PGE2 and Hsp70A may be important markers of cell status.

IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma induce the regenerative epidermal phenotype of psoriasis in the transwell skin organ culture system. IFN-gamma up-regulates the expression of keratin 17 and keratinocyte transglutaminase via endogenous IL-1 production

Skin biopsies from healthy human skin and non-lesional skin from patients with psoriasis were cultured for 24 h and stimulated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in a skin organ culture model and the induction of the psoriasiform regenerative epidermal phenotype was analysed using immunostaining. In the presence of IL-1 beta, the psoriasiform regenerative epidermal phenotype was clearly induced. This involved strong up-regulation of the expression of keratin 16, keratin 17, and keratinocyte transglutaminase (TGk) in the suprabasal layers, strong up-regulation and a shift of the expression of keratin 5 and integrin beta 1 from the basal to suprabasal keratinocytes, and induction of the expression of ICAM-1 and HLA-DR on basal keratinocytes. The effects of IL-1 beta in the organ cultures of normal skin could be completely neutralized by anti-IL-1 polyclonal antibodies. The effects of IFN-gamma in healthy and non-lesional psoriatic skin were qualitatively similar to those of IL-1 beta. The IFN-gamma-induced epidermal expression of keratin 17 and TGk could be completely blocked by culturing the biopsies in the presence of IL-1ra or anti-IL-1 antibodies, while the induction of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 was not inhibited. The induction of the psoriasiform regenerative epidermal phenotype by IFN-gamma is partially mediated via endogenous epidermal IL-1.

IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) gene polymorphism in Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis

The gene encoding interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) has a variable allelic polymorphism. The IL1RN*2 allele was recently described as a factor of severity in several autoimmune diseases and was paradoxically associated with increased production of IL-1ra by monocytes in vitro. We studied this polymorphism in 36 patients with possible or definite primary Sjögren's syndrome and found that IL1RN*2 was significantly more frequent in the definite than in the possible form. In rheumatoid arthritis, the frequency of the allele was not different from that of controls. The serum levels of IL-1ra were markedly higher in Sjögren patients than in those of healthy subjects. By contrast, the salivary IL-1ra levels were decreased. Patients with the allele generally had lower salivary levels and higher serum levels than patients without the allele. In the group of patients with the definite syndrome, CRP and TGF-beta 1, two in vitro stimulators of IL-1ra production, were correlated with IL-1ra serum levels. Our results suggest that IL1RN*2 is a marker of more severe forms of Sjögren's syndrome. Its effect on salivary and serum IL-1ra may be distinct, suggesting separate regulatory mechanisms.

Dexamethasone suppresses release of soluble TNF receptors by human monocytes concurrently with TNF-alpha suppression

Glucocorticoids suppress many monocyte functions, including endotoxin-stimulated release of TNF-alpha. Monocytes also release soluble receptors for TNF (sTNF-R), which can modulate TNF bioactivity. We therefore examined the effects of the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, on the release of soluble forms of the 55 kDa and 75 kDa receptors for TNF (sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75) by human monocytes and the human monocytic Mono Mac 6 cell line. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) spontaneously released 406 +/- 181 pg/10(6) cells of sTNF-R75 over 18 h in culture and Mono Mac 6 cells released 554 +/- 29 pg/10(6) cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure increased release of sTNF-R75 by 54 and 217%, respectively. Dexamethasone suppressed both spontaneous and LPS-stimulated release. The effect of dexamethasone was concentration dependent. At 1 mumol/L, dexamethasone suppressed the LPS-stimulated release of sTNF-R75 by 86% in PBMC and by 40% in Mono Mac 6 cells. Neither PBMC nor Mono Mac 6 cells released measurable amounts of sTNF-R55, but spontaneous release of sTNF-R55 from purified human monocytes (55 +/- 2 pg/10(6) cells over 18 h) was reduced by 45% in the presence of dexamethasone. Dexamethasone reduced bioactive TNF in PBMC cultures, as well as immunoassayable TNF-alpha, which indicates that suppression of TNF-alpha release was biologically more important than suppressed release of soluble inhibitors. Similar concurrent suppression of IL-1 beta and IL-1ra release occurred in PBMC and Mono Mac 6 cultures exposed to dexamethasone.

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is an acute-phase protein

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) levels are elevated in the blood of patients with a variety of infectious, immune, or traumatic conditions. To examine whether IL1Ra is produced by liver cells with characteristics resembling an acute-phase protein, human primary hepatocytes isolated from liver biopsies and HepG2 hepatoma cells were stimulated with IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha. IL-1Ra was present in the supernatants of both cells, with production significantly enhanced by IL-1beta, and by the combination of IL-1beta and IL-6. The term IL-1Ra refers to two different proteins encoded by the same gene, but generated by alternative splicing of two different first exons. One isoform is secreted (17-kD sIL-1Ra), and the other isoform remains in the cytoplasm (18-kD icIL-1Ra). By Western blot analysis, the supernatants of human hepatoma (HepG2) cells contained only sIL-1Ra, whereas the lysates contained a novel smaller molecular mass isoform of 16 kD. RT-PCR and ribonuclease protection assay with RNA from HepG2 cells showed that only sIL-1Ra mRNA was expressed, and confirmed the inducing effect of IL-1beta and IL-6. Transfection studies were performed using constructs containing the promoters of either sIL-1Ra or icIL-1Ra coupled to the luciferase reporter gene. The sIL-1Ra promoter was active in HepG2 cells stimulated by IL-1beta and/or IL-6, whereas the icIL-1Ra promoter was inactive. Mutation of binding sites for transcription factors NF-kappaB and/or C/EBP within the proximal sIL-1Ra promoter led to significant decreases in response to IL-1beta and IL-6 in comparison to the wild-type promoter. Electromobility gel shift assays confirmed the presence of NF-kappaB and C/EBP binding sites within the sIL-1Ra promoter, and indicated a significant increase in the binding activities of nuclear proteins from HepG2 cells treated with IL-1beta and IL-6. In summary, sIL-1Ra, but not icIL-1Ra, is produced by hepatocytes, and is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines as an acute-phase protein. In addition, NF-kappaB and C/EBP family members are likely to play important roles in the full expression of IL-1Ra by hepatocytes during inflammatory conditions.

NO-dependent and NO-independent IL-1 production by a human colonic epithelial cell line under inflammatory stress

1. The present study was designed to investigate, in an in vitro model of the human intestinal barrier, the ability of epithelial cells to produce interleukin-1 (IL-1), the cellular mechanisms involved in IL-1 release, and the intracellular signalling pathways involved in IL-1 up-regulation during inflammatory stress. 2. This study was based on the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29-Cl.16E, maintained as polarized monolayers on filters mounted in culture chambers and treated with various proinflammatory cytokines (interferon gamma (IFN gamma), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), IL-1 beta) alone or in combination. 3. IL-1 production, restricted to IL-1 alpha, was induced by the combination of IFN gamma/TNF alpha. When IL-1 beta was added to IFN gamma/TNF alpha, it led to an additional production of IL-1 alpha. IL-1 alpha release was associated with cell damage, as shown by the correlation between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and extracellular IL-1 production, and was not accounted for by a secretory mechanism. 4. Both IFN gamma/TNF alpha and IFN gamma/TNF alpha/IL-1 beta induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression as shown by quantitation of NO2-/NO3- by use of the Griess reagent, quantitation of cells scoring positive with an anti-iNOS antibody and detection of mRNAs coding for iNOS by RT-PCR. The use of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NOS, led to the demonstration of two distinct signalling pathways in IL-1 production by HT29-Cl.16E cells, one dependent on NO (L-NMMA-sensitive) under treatment with IFN gamma/TNF alpha/IL-1 beta, and the other independent of NO (L-NMMA-insensitive) under treatment with IFN gamma/TNF alpha. 5. Moreover, we examined whether a redox-based mechanism could be responsible for the apparent discrepancy between NO production and NO implication in IL-1 production under IFN gamma/TNF alpha and IFN gamma/TNF alpha/IL-1 beta treatments. Experiments with cysteine, which acts as a powerful reductant, suggest that the nitrosonium character of NO is involved in the NO-dependent pathway in IL-1 production.

Differences in responses of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha production and secretion to cyclosporin-A and ultraviolet B-irradiation by normal and transformed keratinocyte cultures

Among epidermal cytokines, IL-1 and TNF alpha are involved in inflammatory skin reactions and suspected of modulation by immunosuppressive treatment (e.g., cyclosporin A, CsA) or UVB-irradiation, 2 mediators probably being involved in epithelial carcinogenesis. We evaluated the effects of 8 micrograms/ml CsA and 100 J/m2 UVB-irradiation on the production and secretion of IL-1 and TNF alpha on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHK) and epidermal keratinocyte cell lines either spontaneously transformed (HaCaT) or transformed by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 or 18 (EK 16 and EK18), by using ELISA test. Normal and immortalized keratinocytes constitutively produced and released IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) but IL-1 synthesis by NHK was significantly higher than by cell lines. All the cells spontaneously excreted low amounts of TNF alpha. Different responses to treatments were evidenced between NHK and cell lines. CsA modified significantly the production and secretion of IL1 in most cells whereas slight changes were observed with TNF alpha secretion. UVB irradiation had no effect on the intracellular IL1 pool of any cells but increased the release of IL1 and TNF alpha. The association CsA-UVB did not result in additive effects on synthesis and secretion of IL1; the release of TNF alpha by the cells remained poor except for EK18 cells. Taken together, these results show that, in immortalized keratinocytes, the IL-1 and TNF alpha expression was differently affected by treatments with CsA and/or UVB-irradiation as compared to NHK. In addition, spontaneously transformed keratinocytes, HaCaT, reacted differently from HPV-transformed keratinocytes, EK16 and EK18.

Dexamethasone antagonizes IL-4 and IL-10-induced release of IL-1RA by monocytes but augments IL-4-, IL-10-, and TGF-beta-induced suppression of TNF-alpha release

The activities of monocyte-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 beta are potentially modified by IL-1RA and soluble receptors for TNF (sTNF-R), which are themselves monocyte products. IL-4, IL-10, TGF-beta, and glucocorticoids (GC) all suppress the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta but vary in their effects on IL-1RA and sTNF-R. This raises the prospect of interactions between the cytokines and glucocorticoids, which may be antagonistic or additive on IL-1 and TNF activity. We, therefore, studied the interactions of the GC dexamethasone (Dex) with IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta on the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1RA by human monocytes and the monocytic THP-1 cell line. Low concentration of Dex (10(-8)-10(-7)M) acted additively with low concentrations of IL-4 (0.01-1 ng/ml), IL-10 (0.01-0.1 U/ml), or TGF-beta (0.01-1 ng/ml) to profoundly suppress LPS-stimulated release of TNF-alpha by whole blood and, to a lesser degree, THP-1 cells. Dex also suppressed spontaneous release of IL-1RA from PBMC and THP-1 cells, whereas IL-4 and IL-10, but not TGF-beta, stimulated release. Dex antagonized the enhanced release in IL-4 and IL-10-stimulated cultures. The capacity to stimulate release of IL-1RA may contribute to the anti-inflammatory potential of IL-4 and IL-10 in monocyte/macrophage-mediated disease. GC, therefore, do not uniquely enhance the suppressive functions of IL-4 and IL-10 on monokine activity. The therapeutic benefit of combinations of GC and IL-4, IL-10 or TGF-beta in disease may depend on the roles of the individual monokines and antagonists in pathogenesis.