Interleukin-15 expression by human endothelial cells: up-regulation by ultraviolet B and psoralen plus ultraviolet A treatment.
The purposes of the present study were to determine whether endothelial cells express IL-15 and to evaluate effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) and 8-methoxypsoralens plus UVA (PUVA) on such expression. Cultured human endothelial cells derived from dermis or umbilical veins were subjected to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblot analyses for the detection of IL-15 mRNA and protein, respectively. Both dermal and umbilical vein endothelial cells were shown to express IL-15 mRNA and protein, and these markers were upregulated following UVB or PUVA treatment (but not by UVA or 8-methoxypsoralens alone). Also using RT-PCR, dermal and umbilical vein endothelial cells were shown to express IL-2R gamma c mRNA. These results expand the sources of IL-15 in skin to include keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and now endothelial cells. That IL-15 from all three skin cells can be upregulated by UV treatment suggests a role for this cytokine in photosensitive disorders. Finally, the possibility of an autocrine effect of IL-15 on endothelial cells is raised by the expression of IL-2R gamma c in these cells.
Mohamadzadeh
M
M
Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9069, USA.
McGuire
M J
MJ
Dougherty
I
I
Cruz
P D
PD
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005363:Ficusin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*
D019409:Interleukin-15; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D005363:Ficusin