Toxoplasma gondii infection induces gene expression and secretion of interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 by human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
We have used human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cultures to investigate the primary cellular responses of retinal resident cells to intracellular Toxoplasma gondii replication. At 4 days postinoculation, when all of the cells were infected, the secretion of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was augmented by 23-, 10-, 8-, and 5-fold, respectively, over the control. Northern and reverse transcriptase PCR analyses showed significant upregulation of steady-state levels of mRNA for IL-1beta, IL-6, GM-CSF, and ICAM-1. The secretion of these molecules by HRPE cells may play a critical immunoregulatory role in the pathophysiological processes associated with T. gondii-induced retinochoroiditis.
Nagineni
C N
CN
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Detrick
B
B
Hooks
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor