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.
Kovacs
E J
EJ
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois.
Brock
B
B
Silber
I E
IE
Neuman
J E
JE
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