Multiplexed flow cytometric analyses of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the culture media of oxysterol-treated human monocytic cells and in the sera of atherosclerotic patients.
BACKGROUND
Some oxysterols are identified in atheromatous plaques and in plasma of atherosclerotic patients. We asked whether they might modulate cytokine secretion on human monocytic cells. In healthy and atherosclerotic subjects, we also investigated the relationships between circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), conventional markers of hyperlipidemia, some oxysterols (7beta-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, and 25-hydroxycholesterol), and various cytokines.


METHODS
Different flow cytometric bead-based assays were used to quantify some cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, MCP-1, MIP-1beta, or TNF-alpha) in the culture media of oxysterol-treated U937 and THP-1 cells, and in the sera of healthy and atherosclerotic subjects. CRP and markers of hyperlipidemia were determined with routine analytical methods. Oxysterols were quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Flow cytometric and biochemical methods were used to measure IL-8 mRNA levels, intracellular IL-8 content, and protein phosphorylation in the mitogenic extracellular kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (MEK/ERK1/2) signaling pathway.


RESULTS
All oxysterols investigated are potent in vitro inducers of MCP-1, MIP-1beta, TNF-alpha, and/or IL-8 secretion, the latter involving the MEK/ERK1/2 cell signaling pathway. In healthy and atherosclerotic subjects, no relationships were found between cytokines (IL-8, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IL-12, and MCP-1), CRP, conventional markers of hyperlipidemia, and oxysterols. However, in patients with arterial disorders of the lower limbs, small but statistically significant differences in the circulating levels of CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 were observed comparatively to healthy subjects and according to the atherosclerotic stage considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Flow cytometric bead-based assays are well adapted to measure variations of cytokine secretion in the culture media of oxysterol-treated cells and in the sera of healthy and atherosclerotic subjects. They underline the in vitro proinflammatory properties of oxysterols and may permit to distinguish healthy and atherosclerotic subjects, as well as various atherosclerotic stages.
Prunet
Céline
C
Inserm U498/IFR 100, CHU/Hôpital du Bocage, Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, Dijon, France.
Montange
Thomas
T
Véjux
Anne
A
Laubriet
Aline
A
Rohmer
Jean-François
JF
Riedinger
Jean-Marc
JM
Athias
Anne
A
Lemaire-Ewing
Stéphanie
S
Néel
Dominique
D
Petit
Jean-Michel
JM
Steinmetz
Eric
E
Brenot
Roger
R
Gambert
Philippe
P
Lizard
Gérard
G
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016923:Cell Death; D003470:Culture Media; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020298:U937 Cells
D003470:Culture Media; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D013261:Sterols; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3