title: Synthesis of interleukin-1 alpha and beta by normal human melanocytes.
abstract: Normal human melanocytes and melanoma cells have been reported to produce several cytokines. Previously we demonstrated that neonatal human melanocyte proliferation and tyrosinase activity are inhibited by interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. We have now also shown that interleukin-1 beta induces an inhibiting effect on neonatal melanocyte tyrosinase activity with little effect on melanocyte proliferation. We investigated the ability of neonatal and adult human melanocytes to synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta. By immunocytochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-1 alpha and beta, we observed that neonatal and adult melanocytes stain positively for both cytokines. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed that the percentage of melanocytes positive for interleukin-1 alpha was always greater than that for interleukin-1 beta. The ability of neonatal and adult melanocytes to synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta was further confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction. These results clearly indicate that human melanocytes synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta, and that these cytokines may function as autocrine and/or paracrine regulators of cells in the epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0592.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Swope
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sramkoski
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nordlund
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Malek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins