Production of interleukin 1-like factor from human peripheral blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes by superoxide anion: The role of interleukin 1 and reactive oxygen species in inflamed sites

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the possibility that oxidative stress to human peripheral blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) can induce interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like activity. Oxidative stress that we used was superoxide anion ( O 2 −> ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2). O 2 − , but not H 2O 2, could induce an IL-1-like factor(s) from monocytes and PMNs. IL-1-like activity from monocytes and PMNs induced by O 2 −> was due to de novo synthesis because no IL-1-like activity was found in culture supernatants and in the lysate of unstimulated cells. We next examined the effects of radical scavengers on production of an IL-1-like factor(s). Generation of IL-1-like activity from monocytes was amplified by preincubation with catalase (H 2O 2 scavenger), although it was suppressed by preincubation with either superoxide dismutase ( O 2 −> scavenger) or vitamin E (antioxidant analogs). These results suggest that production of an IL-1-like factor(s) from monocytes and PMNs was due to O 2 −> stimulation. Our data that production of an IL-1-like factor(s) from inflammatory cells by stimulation with O 2 −> imply a model of the up-regulation mechanism of inflammation mediated by enhanced IL-1-like factor production stimulated with reactive oxygen species.