Production of fibrogenic cytokines by interleukin-2-treated peripheral blood leukocytes: expression of transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor B chain genes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the production of fibrogenic cytokines by interleukin-2 (IL-2)-stimulated peripheral blood leukocytes and to examine their ability to stimulate the production of connective tissue.


METHODS
Culture medium from human peripheral blood leukocytes incubated with or without IL-2 was tested for induction of fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and expression of cytokine genes.


RESULTS
Supernatants from IL-2-treated peripheral blood leukocytes induced six times more fibroblast proliferation than medium from leukocytes cultured without IL-2. The expression of type I procollagen and fibronectin messenger RNAs was increased in human fibroblasts in response to leukocyte supernatants. Unstimulated leukocytes expressed minimal levels of transforming growth factor-beta or platelet-derived growth factor B chain messenger RNAs, but could be greatly enhanced by IL-2 treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Mediators that induce connective tissue production are secreted by IL-2-treated peripheral blood leukocytes. These cytokines may be responsible, in part, for the stimulation of abdominal adhesions in patients receiving intraperitoneal immunotherapy.
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois.
E J
EJ
Kovacs
B
B
Brock
I E
IE
Silber
J E
JE
Neuman
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000502:physiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011347:Procollagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000503:physiopathology; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D016207:Cytokines; D005353:Fibronectins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011347:Procollagen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen