Cytokine-inducing activity of family 2 cystatins.
Cystatins are physiological cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Here we report a novel function for some family 2 cystatins that is not related to these activities. The release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) by the gingival fibroblasts and that of IL-6 by murine splenocytes were measured using ELISA systems specific for these cytokine molecules. Family 2 cystatins, including cystatins C, SA1, SA2, S, and egg white cystatin, upregulated the IL-6 production by two-lasts at physiological concentrations. After complete saturation with papain, those family 2 cystatins still upregulated IL-6 production, suggesting that the papain-inhibitory site was not involved in the cytokine-inducing activity.
Kato
T
T
Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Imatani
T
T
Miura
T
T
Minaguchi
K
K
Saitoh
E
E
Okuda
K
K
D000818:Animals; D015891:Cystatins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D015891:Cystatins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha