Irradiation induces increased production of haemopoietic and proinflammatory cytokines in the mouse lung.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cytokine expression following irradiation of mice, predominantly in lung tissue but also in selected other tissues.


METHODS
Mice of strain ICR were whole-body (unilaterally) exposed to 3-20 Gy of (60)Co gamma-rays. Colony-stimulating activity (CSA) of lung-conditioned media (LCM), and also other non-haemopoietic and haemopoietic organs, and blood serum of mice was assayed using a GM-CFC bioassay. The production of GM-CSF, IL-6 and TNF-alpha protein in LCM and sera was determined by an ELISA method.


RESULTS
Greatest CSA was detected in conditioned media from the lungs and was induced in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, peaking at 3-9 days after irradiation with a lethal dose of 9 Gy. Conditioned medium prepared from lungs that had been irradiated with a dose of 9 Gy in vitro did not exhibit an increase in CSA. However, whereas the lung-conditioned medium from irradiated mice was found to produce CSA, sera from normal or irradiated mice did not lead to this effect. A significant increase in CSA in sera was observed in the presence of a suboptimal concentration of IL-3, implying that they comprise the co-stimulatory activity (CoSA). The results showed that radiation exposure increased GM-CSF and TNF-alpha protein levels but did not affect IL-6 production in LCM. In contrast, IL-6 and TNF-alpha protein levels in serum were increased after irradiation but no GM-CSF production could be detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole-body irradiation enhances CSA in lungs as well as in other haemopoietic and non-haemopoietic organs. The increase of CSA correlates with increased levels of haemopoietic and proinflammatory cytokines in lung.
Fedorocko
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P
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, P.J.Safárik University, Moyzesova 11, SK-041 67 Kosice, Slovakia. fedvox@kosice.upjs.sk
Egyed
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Vacek
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D000818:Animals; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor