The effect of recombinant interferons on cathepsin B activity in human monocytes.
Blood monocytes isolated from healthy human donors were cultivated for 3 days in the presence of recombinant human interferons (rHuIFN) alpha, beta, gamma. Intracellular activity of cathepsin B was recorded. All rHuIFNs suppressed the cathepsin B activity in the monocytes, rHuIFNs alpha and beta suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, whereas rHuIFN-gamma was suppressive only at low concentrations (1-10 U/ml). In parallel experiments, monocytes were stimulated with carrageenan, which caused increased cathepsin B activity in the cells. This increase was reduced to the level of activity in nonstimulated cells by all rHuIFNs. We have previously reported that cathepsin B may be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, and the present results may have a bearing on the effects of HuIFNs on the immune system.
Rollag
H
H
Institute of Bacteriology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
Mørland
B
B
D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002351:Carrageenan; D007372:Interferons; D002401:Cathepsin B