title: The kinetics of interleukin 1 secretion from activated monocytes. Differences between interleukin 1 alpha and interleukin 1 beta.
abstract: We have performed pulse-chase experiments to investigate the secretion and processing of interleukin 1 (IL-1) by human peripheral blood monocytes. Polyclonal antisera generated against either recombinant IL-1 alpha (p15) or IL-1 beta (p17) could distinguish the two isoelectric forms in lysates and supernatants of lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes. In agreement with previous results, no processed IL-1 (alpha or beta) is detected in cell lysates. Both the 31-kDa precursor and 17-kDa mature forms of IL-1 were present, however, in the culture media indicating that processing is not required for secretion. The relative amounts of the secreted 31- and 17-kDa forms of IL-1 remain constant with time throughout each experiment; in addition, 31-kDa IL-1 added to monocyte cultures is not processed to the mature 17-kDa form. Precursor IL-1 beta is however, processed to 17 kDa by monocyte extracts. Therefore, the maturation and secretion of IL-1 are intimately coordinated processes. The kinetics of IL-1 secretion are unique in comparison with other secreted proteins; release of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta is delayed following synthesis, and large pools of precursor IL-1 accumulate intracellularly. The intracellular half-lives of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are 15 and 2.5 h, respectively. This discrepancy in half-lives is a reflection of the different kinetics with which IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are secreted. IL-1 beta is released continuously beginning 2 h after synthesis, whereas the secretion of IL-1 alpha is delayed for an additional 10 h. The distinct kinetics of secretion demonstrated for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta suggest that the release of each pI species of IL-1 is controlled by a selective mechanism(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-0939.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hazuda
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007106:Immune Sera; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha