Interleukin 4 increases human synovial cell expression of VCAM-1 and T cell binding.
OBJECTIVE
The effects were studied of interleukin 4 (IL-4) on T cell-synovial cell adhesion and on the expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of synovial fibroblast-like cells.


METHODS
The adhesion of T cells toward the synovial cells were measured by 51chromium-labelled adhesion assay. The expression of adhesion molecules on synovial cells were analysed by flowcytometry.


RESULTS
Stimulation of synovial cells with IL-4 increased T cell-synovial cells adhesion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IL-4 considerably enhanced the expression of VCAM-1 on the surface of synovial cells, but not the expression of ICAM-1 and ELAM-1. The combination of IL-1 beta and IL-4 had no effect on the expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 on the surface of synovial cells. The increased adhesion of T cells to IL-4 stimulated synovial cells was inhibited significantly by adding anti-VCAM-1 or anti-CD29 monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, anti-VLA-4 alpha or the combination of anti-VLA-4 alpha and anti-VCAM-1 antibodies blocked completely T-cell binding to IL-4 stimulated synovial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the increased adhesion of T cells to IL-4-stimulated synovial cells is mediated by VLA-4/VCAM-1 pathway.
Shimada
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Eguchi
K
K
Ueki
Y
Y
Nakashima
M
M
Yamashita
I
I
Kawabe
Y
Y
Sakai
M
M
Ida
H
H
Aoyagi
T
T
Nagataki
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4