Production of interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by murine iris and ciliary body explants.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ability of murine iris-ciliary body explants to produce cytokines with proinflammatory activities.


METHODS
Supernatants derived from murine iris-ciliary body (I-CB) tissue explants cultured (four per well in 1 ml medium) in the presence of indomethacin were analyzed for the production of IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha/beta (TNF alpha/beta) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Analysis was performed by thymocyte costimulation, growth factor-dependent cell proliferation, TGF-beta-sensitive mink lung epithelial cell proliferation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).


RESULTS
Supernatants from I-CB explants cultured in vitro for 24 hours contained significant thymocyte costimulatory activity. This activity was fully neutralized by a combination of antisera to IL-1 and IL-6, and ELISA analysis confirmed that IL-6 was a significant component of the supernatant (402.7 pg/ml). TNF alpha/beta were also found in low concentrations (approximately 2.0 U/ml) by ELISA analysis, whereas IL-2 and IL-4 were not detectable. Significant amounts of GM-CSF (15.8 U/ml), but no IL-3, were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that normal I-CB tissue contains cells capable of producing IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-1. Because of the proinflammatory nature of IL-6 and IL-1, and the ability of GM-CSF, IL-1, and IL-6 to enhance functional capabilities of antigen presenting cells, regulation of the production of these cytokines may contribute significantly to the maintenance of the immunologic status of this regional site.
Knisely
T L
TL
Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Boston.
Grabbe
S
S
Nazareno
R
R
Granstein
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000276:immunology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007498:Iris / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor