title: Down-regulation of MHC class II expression on bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells by cytokines.
abstract: To determine the effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on the down-regulation of MHC class II antigens, bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were incubated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in different concentrations. Subsequently, the IFN-gamma pretreated RPE cells were cultured with TGF-beta or IL-10 in distinct concentrations and treatment modi. About 10% of native (totally untreated) RPE cells were positive for MHC class II antigens detected with immunocytostaining. Under the influence of IFN-gamma (1,000 U/ml), the number of MHC class II-bearing cells increased to 49.9 +/- 4.5% positive cells after 8 days' incubation. Expression decreased under the most effective TGF-beta treatment (5 ng/ml) to 2.0 +/- 0.9% after 24 h incubation, and under similar IL-10 treatment (200 U/ml) to 3.8 +/- 1.4% after 72 h. This decreasing number of the MHC class II-positive cells may be useful for various eye research studies and, more especially, to RPE cell transplantation in the future.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology