title: Irradiation induces increased production of haemopoietic and proinflammatory cytokines in the mouse lung.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, P.J.Safárik University, Moyzesova 11, SK-041 67 Kosice, Slovakia. fedvox@kosice.upjs.sk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fedorocko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egyed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacek
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor