title: IL-1, ICAM-1, LFA-3, and hydrocortisone differentially regulate cytokine secretion by human fetal thymic epithelial cells.
abstract: Human fetal thymic epithelial cells (TEC) were cultured under serum-free conditions. The TEC were analyzed for the secretion of 14C-labelled peptides and of IL-3, IL-6 IL-7, IL-8, GM-CSF, LIF, fibronectin and thymosin alpha 1 by ELISA tests. IL-3 and IL-7 were not detected from these TEC. Lack of IL-7 and presence of thymosin alpha 1 and of the surface molecule TE-4 depicts these cells as subcapsular/medullary TEC. TEC secreted constitutively IL-6, IL-8, fibronectin and thymosin alpha 1 but not GM-CSF of LIF. Stimulants included recombinant IL-1 and monoclonal antibodies to the surface adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and LAF-3. In addition, hydrocortisone (2.7 x 10(-7) M) was used to dissect secretion patterns. Recombinant IL-1, anti ICAM-1, and anti LFA-3 alone and collectively induced modest but significant increases in the secretions of 14C-labelled peptides and of IL-6 and IL-8 which were not inhibited by HC. Recombinant IL-1 but not anti ICAM-1 and anti LFA-3 induced GM-CSF and LIF. HC inhibited the secretion of GM-CSF and LIF induced by IL-1. None of the stimulants augmented the constitutive secretion of fibronectin or thymosin alpha 1 and HC inhibited thymosin alpha 1 secretion. TEC secretion of cytokines but not thymosin alpha 1 and fibronectin appear to be regulated in a more complex manner than heretofore recognized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopharmacology, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Touraine
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hadden
mesh_terms: D018968:CD58 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008024:Ligands; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018968:CD58 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008024:Ligands; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D006854:Hydrocortisone