title: Cell-cell contacts with epithelial cells modulate the phenotype of human macrophages.
abstract: Interactions of macrophages with epithelium represent one of the pathways involved in regulating local immune mechanisms. We studied the effect of cell-cell contact with an epithelial monolayer on the phenotype of macrophages. Human monocytes and THP-1 macrophages were co-cultured with monolayers of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), the alveolar type II-like cell line A549, renal adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (RA), and the lung fibroblast strain HFL-1. The expression of CD11b, CD14, CD54, and HLA-DR was measured by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry and showed epithelial cell induction of CD54 and HLA-DR in monocytes and of all antigens in THP-1 cells. Co-culture with fibroblasts did not change the phenotype of macrophages. Separation by a filter insert inhibited most of the effects. Culture supernatants did not induce prominent phenotypic changes. Cell-cell contacts with epithelium appear to be of importance in regulating the phenotype of macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Striz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slavcev
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalanin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaresová
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rennard
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1