rIL-1 Alpha Research Articles

A trial of recombinant human interleukin-1 in patients with severe refractory aplastic anaemia.

We report here the effects of in vivo administration of recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) to patients with severe, idiopathic aplastic anaemia. Four patients who were refractory to immunosuppressive therapy and were not bone marrow transplantation candidates received daily doses of 0.03 microgram/kg and 0.10 microgram/kg intravenously as 5 d courses. No significant changes in either peripheral blood counts or bone marrow cellularity were observed at either dose during or following therapy. Two patients showed increased numbers of bone marrow progenitor colonies. Lymphocyte phenotyping demonstrated an elevated percentage of CD8+/DR+ activated suppressor T lymphocytes prior to therapy. After rIL-1 alpha administration, the percentage of CD8+/DR+ cells was reduced or returned to normal in all patients. Significant side-effects included fever, rigours, fatigue, headache and nausea. Transient hypotension was observed at both doses in all patients. These results suggest that while rIL-1 alpha can be safely administered, no significant haematologic improvement was observed in patients with severe aplastic anaemia.

Effects of recombinant human interleukin-6 alone and in combination with recombinant interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha on antibacterial resistance in mice

In this study, recombinant human interleukin-6 (rIL-6) was tested for its ability to alter the resistance of mice to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection. Single bolus or repeated injections of rIL-6 by itself did not increase antilisteria resistance. When rIL-6 was injected in combination with suboptimal concentrations of rIL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF-alpha), it did not augment their abilities to mediate protection in the spleen and had a marginal effect on the level of protection in the liver. Injection of rIL-6 together with protective doses of rIL-1 alpha did not diminish the protection stimulated by the latter. Unlike rIL-1 alpha and recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha, rIL-6 appears to have little ability to elevate antibacterial resistance.

Separation of soluble amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity of activated macrophages.

Macrophage-conditioned medium (M phi CM) prepared from mouse peritoneal macrophages activated in vivo with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or Propionibacterium acnes and triggered with lipopolysaccharide in vitro contained tumoricidal and amoebicidal activity. The murine fibroblast cell line L929 was used as the indicator of tumoricidal activity and Naegleria fowleri amoeba was used to detect amoebicidal activity in M phi CM. The protease inhibitor, soybean trypsin inhibitor, decreased tumoricidal activity but had little effect on amoebicidal activity in M phi CM. Anti-TNF alpha antiserum inhibited tumoricidal activity in M phi CM. The antiserum reduced amoebicidal activity in BCG-activated M phi CM but had no effect on amoebicidal activity in P. acnes-activated M phi CM. Recombinant TNF alpha, rIL-1 alpha, or rIL-1 beta independently did not affect cytolysis of amoebae. Also, rTNF alpha had no effect on the growth of amoebae. Preparative flat-bed electrofocusing of BCG-activated M phi CM yielded fractions that exhibited different amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity profiles. Three domains of activity were analyzed (acidic, neutral, and basic). Anti-TNF alpha antiserum eliminated tumoricidal activity, but not amoebicidal activity, in fractions from the acidic domain. A combination of anti-TNF alpha and anti-IL-1 alpha antisera failed to eliminate amoebicidal activity in fractions from the basic domain. These results indicate that different factors are responsible for macrophage amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity. The amoebicidal factors in M phi CM affected cytolysis of several species of amoebae.

CD14 contributes to the adherence of human monocytes to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells.

Monocyte adherence to endothelial cells (EC) is selectively increased during inflammation. The mechanisms underlying monocyte-EC interaction indicated the involvement of surface-adhesion molecules on monocytes and EC. In earlier studies we noticed that the monocyte-specific mAb, designated mAb 63D3, in contrast to mAb against the beta 2-integrin molecules, inhibited the monocyte binding to monolayers of rIL-1 alpha-stimulated venous EC. The aim of the present study was to further characterize the Ag recognized by mAb 63D3 and to investigate the specific contribution of this Ag to the adherence of monocytes to cultured human macrovascular venous or arterial EC. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the 63D3 Ag is expressed exclusively on the surface of peripheral blood monocytes. SDS-PAGE analysis of mAb 63D3 immunoprecipitates of 125I-labeled human monocyte surface proteins revealed that the target Ag for mAb 63D3 is a 52- to 55-kDa molecule identical to the myeloid differentiation protein CD14. Stimulation of EC with rIL-1 alpha or rTNF-alpha for 4 or 24 h or rIFN-gamma for 24 h increased (p less than 0.005) the number of monocytes bound to both types of EC. This cytokine-induced increase in monocyte adherence was significantly (p less than 0.0005) inhibited when the monocytes were coated with various mAb against CD14. The binding of monocytes to nonstimulated venous or arterial EC was not inhibited by anti-CD14 mAb. Our results lead to the conclusion that CD14 molecules, which on basis of their structure and m.w. are not related to the beta 2-integrin family of heterodimeric leukocyte adhesion molecules, participate in the binding of monocytes to cytokine-stimulated EC.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor modulation of cytokine receptors on murine bone marrow cells. In vivo and in vitro studies.

Human recombinant granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) modulation of cytokine receptors on murine bone marrow cells (BMC) in vivo and in vitro was investigated. In vivo, G-CSF reduced 125I-G-CSF binding to BMC by greater than 95% within 30 min, with return to base line after 48 h. Human rCSF-1 binding was reduced greater than 85% after 30 min and failed to recover even after 48 h. Murine rTNF-alpha or recombinant granulocyte/macrophage CSF binding was not significantly altered. However, human rIL-1 alpha binding increased greater than 1.5-fold after 3 h, was elevated greater than 5-fold between 6 and 12 h, and declined to base line after 48 h. In vitro, G-CSF induced a greater than 1.5-fold increase in IL-1 binding to BMC after 8 h, suggesting that up-modulation of IL-1 binding in vivo required G-CSF and other influences. Further studies indicated that BMC responded to glucocorticoids and G-CSF with a synergistic increase of IL-1 binding. This synergistic IL-1R modulation was a time- and dose-dependent process and was inhibited by cycloheximide or actinomycin D in a dose-dependent manner. Binding studies further revealed that the synergistic stimulation of IL-1R expression on BMC was probably due to increased receptor number, rather than increased receptor affinity. In addition, this phenomenon was also observed in other hematopoietic cells. Our results demonstrated that G-CSF was capable of stimulating IL-1R expression on BMC both in vivo and in vitro and G-CSF in combination with glucocorticoids synergistically up-modulated IL-1 binding to BMC in vitro. Inasmuch as IL-1 induces the secretion of G-CSF and glucocorticoids in vivo, this synergistic induction may play an important, as yet unknown, role in the inflammatory cascade.

Human anti-interleukin 1α antibodies

Autoantibodies to the cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 alpha are frequently found in sera of apparently healthy humans. We have developed a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of human serum antibodies to IL-1 alpha at concentrations below 10 pmol/l. The RIA is based on coprecipitation of 125I-labelled human recombinant IL-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) by rabbit antibodies to human immunoglobulins. The ELISA is based on recovery of added rIL-1 alpha to serum samples and takes advantage of the fact that free human autoantibodies to IL-1 alpha in a dose dependent manner reduce recovery of added rIL-1 alpha. The assays correlate exceedingly well (r = 0.99, P less than 0.001). Their inter- and intraassay coefficients of variation were less than 30% and less than 5% (RIA) and less than 20% and less than 10% (ELISA). Both assays were used to measure the presence of anti-IL-1 alpha antibodies in sera of patients with various autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies to IL-1 alpha were detectable in up to 75% of these sera, but the frequencies and titers varied considerably between individuals with different diseases.

Preexposure of macrophages to low doses of lipopolysaccharide inhibits the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA but not of IL-1 beta mRNA.

LPS is known to be a potent activator of macrophages and induces the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1. However, the signaling events and regulatory mechanisms required for the activation of macrophages by LPS have not been resolved precisely. We show that LPS modulates its own response in macrophages. Proteose peptone-induced murine peritoneal macrophages (P-PEM) produce significant amount of TNF-alpha and IL-1 after stimulation with LPS. However, preexposure of macrophages to low doses (less than 1 ng/ml) of LPS renders them refractory to stimulation by a second round of LPS, as evaluated by production of TNF-alpha. The loss of sensitivity to a second round of LPS was selective for TNF-alpha production as the LPS-primed macrophages retained the ability to produce IL-1. Northern blot analysis was performed with total RNA obtained from control and LPS- (1 ng/ml) primed P-PEM after 3-h stimulation with a second round of LPS. The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA was inhibited in LPS-primed P-PEM, whereas the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA was the same in control and LPS-primed P-PEM, consistent with the data of biologic activities of these two cytokines. Zymosan-induced TNF-alpha production was the same in control and LPS-primed macrophages, indicating that not all of the pathways required for TNF-alpha production were affected by LPS priming. Monokines such as human (h) rIL-1 alpha, hrTNF-alpha, hrIL-6, and murine rIFN-beta could not substitute for the action of low doses of LPS, and addition of indomethacin could not restore TNF-alpha production. These results suggest that exposure of macrophages to low doses of LPS suppresses the production of TNF-alpha, but not of IL-1, by inhibiting the expression of mRNA through a noncyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism. Thus, LPS-induced production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in macrophages are differently regulated.

Inhibition of interleukin 1 (IL-1) binding and bioactivity in vitro and modulation of acute inflammation in vivo by IL-1 receptor antagonist and anti-IL-1 receptor monoclonal antibody.

Recombinant human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and 35F5, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the type I mouse IL-1 receptor, were examined for their ability to bind to IL-1 receptors (IL-1Rs) on various types of mouse cells and to block immune and inflammatory responses to IL-1 in vitro and in mice. IL-1ra competed for binding of 125I-IL-1 alpha to type I IL-1R present on EL-4 thymoma cells, 3T3 fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing recombinant mouse type I IL-1R. The IC50 values for IL-1ra binding (ranging from 2 to 4 ng/ml) were similar to those of IL-1 alpha. In contrast, IL-1ra bound with very low affinity (IC50 values ranging from 10 to 200 micrograms/ml) to cells expressing type II IL-1R, i.e., 70Z/3 pre-B cell line and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) derived from bone marrow and acute inflammatory exudates. The mAb 35F5 bound specifically to type I IL-1R; no inhibition of 125I-IL-1 alpha binding to cells having type II IL-1R was observed with very high concentrations of antibody. While neither IL-1ra nor 35F5 had intrinsic activity in bioassays using T helper D10.G4.1 cells and mouse thymocytes, both agents blocked the ability of IL-1 to stimulate proliferation of these cells. The effects of IL-1ra and 35F5 on acute inflammatory responses in mice were also evaluated. IL-1ra and 35F5 blocked the local accumulation of PMN after intraperitoneal injection of rIL-1 alpha. The response to IL-1 was inhibited when IL-1ra or 35F5 was administered simultaneously with or before administration of IL-1. IL-1ra and 35F5 also blocked PMN accumulation after intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide or proteose peptone, suggesting IL-1 is important in mediating responses to these agents. In addition, IL-1ra and 35F5 significantly blocked the ability of IL-1 to stimulate egress of PMN from bone marrow, to induce a transient neutrophilia, and to elevate serum levels of hepatic acute phase proteins, IL-6, and corticosterone. Thus, IL-1ra and 35F5 competitively inhibit the binding of IL-1 to the IL-1R on certain cell types. These two IL-1 receptor antagonists act to inhibit biological responses induced by IL-1 and other inflammatory agents.

Recombinant human interleukin-1 induces meningitis and blood-brain barrier injury in the rat. Characterization and comparison with tumor necrosis factor.

The diversity of infectious agents capable of inducing meningitis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury suggests the potential for a common host mediator. The inflammatory polypeptides, IL-1 and TNF, were tested in an experimental rat model as candidate mediators for induction of meningitis and BBB injury. Intracisternal challenge of rIL-1 beta into rats induced neutrophil emigration into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and significantly increased BBB permeability to systemically administered 125I-BSA as early as 3 h later (P less than 0.05). This injury was reversible, dose dependent and significantly inhibited by prior induction of systemic neutropenia (via intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide) or preincubation of the rIL-1 beta inoculum (50 U) with an IgG monoclonal antibody to rIL-1 beta. Similar kinetics and reversibility of CSF inflammation and BSA permeability were observed using equivalent dose inocula of rIL-1 alpha. rTNF-alpha was less effective as an independent inducer of meningitis or BBB injury over an inoculum range of 10(1) U (0.0016 micrograms/kg)-10(6) U (160 micrograms/kg) when injected intracisternally, but inoculum combinations of low concentrations of rTNF alpha (10(3) U) and rIL-1 beta (0.0005-5.0 U) were synergistic in inducing both meningitis and BBB permeability to systemic 125I-BSA. These data suggest that in situ generation of interleukin-1 within CSF (with or without TNF) is capable of mediating both meningeal inflammation and BBB injury seen in various central nervous system infections.

Species differences in human and rat islet sensitivity to human cytokines. Monoclonal anti-interleukin-1 (IL-1) influences on direct and indirect IL-1-mediated islet effects

Species differences in sensitivity to human recombinant cytokines were observed when human or rat islets were co-cultured with human recombinant cytokines for 6 days. Suppression of both human and rat islet insulin secretion resulted from co-culture with recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) or interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta); however, direct rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta cytotoxicity was seen with rat islets but not with human islets. Human islet insulin secretion was also suppressed during co-culture with recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) or interferon (rIFN), but not with lymphotoxin (rLT) or rIL-6; rat islet insulin secretion was not suppressed by any of these cytokines. No direct cytotoxic effects resulted from co-culture of human islets with rLT, rTNF, rIFN, or rIL-6; rLT was slightly cytotoxic for rat islets. Human islet cytotoxic synergy occurred between rLT and rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, or rIFN; synergy in suppression of human islet insulin secretion occurred between rLT and rIL-1 beta, and between rIFN and rTNF. Pretreatment of rIL-1 with monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for non-crossreactive epitopes on rIL-1 alpha (H43 and H12) or rIL-1 beta (H34 and H21) prevented islet cytotoxic synergy between rIL-1 alpha or rIL-1 beta, respectively, and rLT. Although all four mAb's neutralize the thymocyte and fibroblast stimulatory activities of rIL-1 alpha or rIL-1 beta, mAb H21 does not neutralize rIL-1 beta activity against rat islets. Implications for cytokine-mediated islet cytotoxicity and suppression of insulin secretion are discussed.

Interleukin-1 receptors on human thyroid cells and on the rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5

Cellular binding of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was tested on monolayers of human thyrocytes in secondary culture, on long-term cultures of human thyrocytes, and on the rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5. The human thyrocytes in secondary culture showed specific binding of human 125I-rIL-1 alpha. Scatchard plots of data obtained at 4 degrees C indicated the presence of a single population of receptors with a Kd of 30 to 170 pM and 2,000 to 6,000 receptors per cell. Incubation at room temperature resulted in internalization of the receptor-ligand complex. Parallel experiments were performed with the IL-1 receptor-positive murine T-cell lines EL-4 and NOB-1. The IL-1 receptors on these cells had Kd values one fifth to one tenth those on human thyroid cells in secondary culture. Both rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta inhibited 125I-rIL-1 alpha binding to human thyrocytes and the murine T cells. In contrast to the cells in secondary culture, there was no specific binding of 125I-rIL-1 alpha to long-term cultivated human thyroid cells or to the FRTL-5 cells. We concluded that recently described differences in the response to IL-1 of different thyroid cell culture systems are most likely caused by differences in expression of IL-1 receptors.

Trophoblast-Derived Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Stimulates the Release of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin by Activating IL-6 and IL-6-Receptor System in First Trimester Human Trophoblasts*

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a unique activity to stimulate the release of multiple hormones in a number of human and murine endocrine systems. IL-6 also expresses such activities by activating IL-6-receptor (R)-mediated signal transduction pathways. Since the placenta produces both of these cytokines and endocrine hormones such as hCG, we investigated how these cytokines regulate hCG release by normal trophoblasts. Trophoblasts purified by Percoll density gradient released hCG from 120 min after stimulation with recombinant (r) IL-1 alpha, and its release was dependent on the rIL-1 alpha concentration used. The rIL-1 alpha-stimulated trophoblasts released a molecule with IL-6 activity antecedently, as determined by an IL-6-dependent cell line, MH60.BSF2 cells. The IL-6 identity of the released molecule was confirmed by goat anti-IL-6 antiserum. rIL-1-mediated hCG release from trophoblasts was completely abrogated to the basal level by pretreatment of the trophoblasts with PM1, an anti-IL-6-R monoclonal antibody. Identical results were observed with rIL-1 beta. These results showed that rIL-1-induced hCG release was totally dependent on IL-6- and IL-6-R-mediated signal transduction in human trophoblasts. The presence of peripheral monocytes in the purified trophoblast fraction, however, induced a rapid decrease in IL-6 and hCG release after their maximal release, suggesting some regulatory interaction between trophoblasts and the monocytes. In contrast, rIL-1-mediated enhancement of IL-6 and hCG secretion by purified trophoblasts was no longer observed at 24 h compared with that of the unstimulated trophoblasts, while spontaneous hCG secretion was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of trophoblasts with PM1. The results showed that IL-6 and hCG secretion might also be regulated by a number of agents besides IL-1, and that hCG secretion as well as its release is dependent on IL-6 and IL-6-R system in trophoblasts.

Interleukin-6 does not stimulate bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvariae

Recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL-6) was assessed for its ability to stimulate bone resorption in prelabeled mouse calvariae in vitro. IL-6 had no effect on bone resorption at concentrations ranging from 300 to 10,000 U/ml (3-1000 pg/ml). Neither the presence of indomethacin nor prolonged incubation periods (96 h) affected this result. IL-6 did not affect resorption stimulated by human recombinant IL-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) but inhibited resorption stimulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. rIL-1 alpha, PTH, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 induced IL-6 release by calvariae. We conclude from these studies that IL-6 does not stimulate bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvariae. However, it may act as a locally produced inhibitor and therefore a paracrine regulator of bone resorption induced by osteotropic hormones. IL-6 could also function as a long-range stimulator of systemic reactions and acute-phase responses to local inflammatory and neoplastic lesions in bone.

Keratinocyte-expression of interleukin-6 but not of tumour necrosis factor-alpha is increased in the allergic and the irritant patch test reaction.

The cytokine expression on epidermal cells in the allergic patch test reaction (APR) and irritant patch test reaction (IPR) was studied using antibodies against rIL-6, rTNF alpha, rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta in a histochemical biotin-avidin technique. Nickel sulphate was used for APR in 5 nickel allergic patients and sodium lauryl sulphate for IPR in 5 healthy individuals. The individuals served as their own control. Enhanced keratinocyte expression of IL-6 was observed in APR and IPR, whereas staining for TNF alpha remained unaltered compared with non-tested and petrolatum-tested skin. Staining for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta proved negative in all specimens. Double-staining experiments demonstrated that epidermal and dermal OKT-6 (CD1) positive Langerhans cells (LC) remained negative for all cytokines. These results demonstrate that enhancement of keratinocyte-bound IL-6 does not induce TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha/beta or IL-6 expression by LC during APR or IPR, and that enhanced keratinocyte expression of IL-6 fails to distinguish between these two reactions.

Natural and recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonists block the effects of IL-1 on bone resorption and prostaglandin production.

Inhibitory factors towards IL-1 have been identified in the urine and in the supernatants of human monocyte cultures and have been shown to act as receptor antagonists. We have investigated whether a natural inhibitor purified from human urine (uIL-1ra) and a recombinant molecule expressed using the gene for an IL-1 antagonist isolated from monocytes (rIL-1ra) can alter responses to human rIL-1 alpha in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones and neonatal mouse calvariae. The two preparations probably contained similar or identical molecules, because an antibody to rIL-1ra reacted with uIL-1ra by Western blot analysis. uIL-1ra and rIL-1ra specifically blocked stimulation of bone resorption by rIL-1 in both culture systems, as well as the increase in PGE2 production in cultured calvariae. Resorptive effects of parathyroid hormone and TNF-alpha were not blocked. The uIL-1ra preparation had some intrinsic resorbing activity, but on gel chromatography this appeared in fractions that eluted earlier than uIL-1ra. Concentration ratios of rIL-1ra to rIL-1 as low as 10 could block the resorptive response of fetal rat long bones, whereas concentration ratios of 100 to 1000 were required to block IL-1 action on neonatal mouse calvariae. The inhibitory effects appeared to be competitive, because increasing concentrations of IL-1 overcame the block of bone resorption in both systems and the inhibition of PGE2 production in calvariae.

Interleukin-1-induced promotion of T-cell differentiation in mice immunized with killed Listeria monocytogenes

We studied the effects of administration of recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha) to mice after immunization with killed Listeria monocytogenes cells on the promotion of the functional differentiation of T cells in vivo. Mice immunized with killed L. monocytogenes were unable to express cell-mediated immunity to specific antigen in vivo, as determined by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and acquired cellular resistance (ACR), and splenic T cells obtained from such mice were unable to respond to rIL-2 and specific antigen and to produce IL-2 after antigenic restimulation in vitro. When rIL-1 alpha was given to mice after immunization with killed bacteria. T cells became capable of responding to rIL-2 and specific antigen in vitro. These functions of T cells were similar to those from mice immunized with viable listeriae. Moreover, using a local passive transfer system, it was found that effector T cells mediating DTH but not ACR to L. monocytogenes were generated in mice treated with rIL-1 alpha after immunization with killed bacteria. These T cells were able to produce macrophage chemotactic factor but not macrophage-activating factor or gamma interferon in vitro in response to stimulation with specific antigen. These results suggest that in vivo administration of rIL-1 alpha facilitates the maturation of antigen-specific T cells mediating DTH and that different effector T cells mediating DTH or ACR are involved in cell-mediated immunity to L. monocytogenes.

Distribution and Characterization of Autoantibodies to Interleukin 1α in Normal Human Sera

Antibodies against IL-1 alpha were detected in sera of apparently healthy individuals. The immunoglobulins belonged to the IgG class, particularly IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4. [125I]rIL-1 alpha bound to Fab fragments of IgG, and IgG immune complexes of molecular weights from 160 to 700 kDa were formed in the sera by [125I]rIL-1 alpha. The occurrence of detectable anti-IL-1 alpha IgG in sera of 32 male and 32 female donors was 25 and 22% respectively. As judged by Scatchard analysis of the binding data, the capacity and avidity of binding were greater in the male than in the female sera (mean capacity to bind [125I]rIL-1 alpha: 10 [0.7-27] versus 3.3 [0.5-7.3] ng/ml; and mean Kd: 5.5 [5-7] versus 11 [4-16] pM). The antibodies did not cross-bind human recombinant IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). It is concluded that native IL-1 alpha seems to trigger production of specific, high-avidity IgG antibodies in a relatively large number of normal individuals. These autoantibodies may regulate immunoinflammatory processes involving IL-1 alpha.

IL-1 regulation of transin/stromelysin transcription in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts appears to involve two antagonistic transduction pathways, an inhibitory, prostaglandin-dependent pathway mediated by cAMP, and a stimulatory, protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

IL-1, like other agents that have been shown a capacity to induce protein kinase C, is a potent transcriptional activator of the metalloproteinase, stromelysin, in synovial and other fibroblasts. cAMP has been shown to inhibit stromelysin transcription in fibroblasts of nonsynovial origin, and is regarded as an important second messenger for IL-1. In addition to stimulating metalloproteinase transcription, IL-1 also induces PGE2 production in synoviocytes. We determined that rIL-1 alpha led to the time-dependent accumulation of intracellular cAMP in serum-starved rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts, and that the effect was blocked by indomethacin. The cAMP agonists forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and PGE2 suppressed the IL-1 induction of stromelysin; conversely, indomethacin superinduced IL-1-elicited stromelysin mRNA. These results were recapitulated on the transcriptional level in cells transfected with the rat transin/stromelysin promoter in a reporter (CAT) construct. 2',5'-Dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, also augmented the IL-1 induction of stromeylsin mRNA, as did H-8, a specific inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. Staurosporine and H-7, inhibitors of protein kinase C, blocked the IL-1 induction of stromelysin mRNA. We conclude that IL-1 appears to stimulate at least two transduction pathways in synovial fibroblasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and that these have antagonistic effects on the regulation of stromelysin transcription.

The regulatory effects of cytokines on the induction of a peripheral immunologic tolerance in mice.

Previous reports have demonstrated that injection of rIL-1 alpha into mice abrogates the ability of deaggregated human gamma-globulin (HGG) to induce a state of antigen specific immunologic tolerance in vivo. Our results demonstrate that human rIL-1 beta and a bioactive nonapeptide of human IL-1 beta inhibit the induction of tolerance to HGG suggesting that IL-1 affects tolerance induction through a noninflammatory mechanism of action because the immunoactive nonapeptide possesses only immunomodulatory properties. Further, TNF-alpha but not IL-6, cytokines with many bioactivities in common with IL-1, was found to inhibit the induction of tolerance. Therefore, it appears unlikely that IL-6 plays a role in the pathway by which either IL-1 or TNF-alpha interferes with tolerance induction. Although IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were incapable of directly affecting the induction of tolerance to HGG, it was determined that IL-4 and IFN-gamma were capable of inhibiting the ability of IL-1 to abrogate tolerance induction. It has been suggested that IL-1 induces the generation of endogenous IL-1 in vivo. Further, it has been demonstrated that IFN-gamma as well as IL-4 inhibits the synthesis of IL-1. Inasmuch as IL-4 and IFN-gamma inhibit the ability of IL-1 to abrogate tolerance induction, it appears that it is the endogenously generated IL-1 that interferes with tolerance induction. It was also determined that neither IL-4 nor IFN-gamma inhibits the activity of IL-1 which is consistent with results reported by others. Thus, results presented here suggest that the inhibition of tolerance induction to HGG by IL-1 may involve the stimulation of endogenous IL-1 synthesis.

Partial characterization of an interleukin-1-like factor in human gingival crevicular fluid from patients with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease

A significant level of interleukin-1-(IL-1)-like activity was detected in gingival crevicular fluid obtained from sites in patients with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease, confirming a previous report of IL-1-like activity detected in human gingival crevicular fluid from patients with chronic inflammatory periodontitis (J. A. Charon, T. A. Luger, S. E. Mergenhagen, and J. J. Oppenheim, Infect. Immun. 38:1190-1195, 1982). In the present study, we sought to investigate whether this IL-1-like activity belonged to IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta and to characterize some of the biochemical properties of this factor. Polyclonal antibodies against recombinant human IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta (rIL-1 alpha or rIL-1 beta) have been used for serological comparison of the IL-1-like factor. IL-1-like activity was completely neutralized by anti-human rIL-1 alpha antiserum, but not by anti-human rIL-1 beta antiserum. On gel filtration with a high-pressure liquid chromatographic Superose 12 column, IL-1-like activity was separated into two peaks, one with a molecular weight of about 43,000 and the other with a molecular weight of less than 17,000. The majority of the IL-1-like factor with a low molecular weight in human gingival crevicular fluid migrated at a molecular weight of about 17,000 under the reducing conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specificity of the IL-1-like factor was further confirmed by an immunochemical method (Western blotting [immunoblotting]) by using anti-human rIL-1 alpha monoclonal antibodies. On isoelectric chromatography with a high-pressure liquid chromatographic Mono P column, the pI of this IL-1-like factor was between pH 4.9 and 5.2. These results suggest that the IL-1-like factor in human gingival crevicular fluid from diseased sites in patients with chronic inflammatory periodontitis consists predominantly of IL-1 alpha.