Cystatin SA, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, induces interferon-gamma expression in CD4-positive T cells.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that family 2 cystatins upregulate interleukin-6 production by human gingival fibroblasts. In the present study, we investigated the effects of cystatin SA on cytokine production by helper T cells. Human CD4-positive T cells were cultured with phytohemagglutinin in the presence or absence of 0.1 microM recombinant cystatin SA1 or SA2. When the amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) were analyzed in an ELISA system after stimulation with either cystatin, no significantly increased levels of IL-4 were detected. However, the amounts of IFNgamma were significantly increased after stimulation with the cystatins. Our results suggest that salivary family 2 cystatins are involved in immune responses through the cytokine network.
Kato
Tetsuo
T
Oral Health Science Center, Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan. tekato@tdc.ac.jp
Ito
Taichi
T
Imatani
Tetsuya
T
Minaguchi
Kiyoshi
K
Saitoh
Eiichi
E
Okuda
Katsuji
K
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015891:Cystatins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D055333:Salivary Cystatins; D015854:Up-Regulation
C525172:CST2 protein, human; D015891:Cystatins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D055333:Salivary Cystatins; D007371:Interferon-gamma