Production of leukemia inhibitory factor by human articular chondrocytes and cartilage in response to interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the production of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by human articular chondrocytes and cartilage.


METHODS
Chondrocytes and cartilage were cultured with and without added cytokines, and the conditioned media assayed for LIF by a specific radioreceptor competition assay.


RESULTS
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) stimulated LIF production by chondrocyte monolayers and cartilage. LIF was generally not detected in unstimulated cultures. Northern blot analysis showed increased amounts of LIF messenger RNA in IL-1- and TNF alpha-treated chondrocyte cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Chondrocytes, stimulated by IL-1 and/or TNF alpha, are potential contributors to the elevated levels of LIF observed in the synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritides.
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
I K
IK
Campbell
P
P
Waring
U
U
Novak
J A
JA
Hamilton
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016207:Cytokines; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha