Expression of interleukin 1-like cytokine interleukin 33 and its receptor complex (ST2L and IL1RAcP) in human pancreatic myofibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin 33 (IL33) is a cytokine belonging to the IL1 family and it binds to a complex of the ST2L/IL1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAcP). To define the role of IL33 in fibrogenesis of the pancreas, the expression of IL33, ST2L and IL1RAcP was examined in chronic pancreatitis tissues. The effects of IL33 on the functions of human pancreatic myofibroblasts were also investigated.


METHODS
Tissue samples were obtained surgically. The expression of IL33, ST2L and IL1RAcP was evaluated by standard immunohistochemical procedures. Messenger RNA expression for IL33, ST2L and IL1RAcP was analysed by northern blotting and real-time PCR analyses, and protein expression was assessed by western blotting and ELISA. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed by a (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay and the modified Boyden chamber assay, respectively.


RESULTS
IL33, ST2L and IL1RAcP were expressed by alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts in the fibrosis of chronic pancreatitis. In human pancreatic myofibroblasts, IL33 was weakly immunoexpressed without any stimuli, and this was markedly enhanced by IL1beta, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent AP-1 activation pathway. ST2L mRNA was weakly detected in unstimulated cells, and IL4 and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) strongly enhanced ST2L expression via STAT6 and STAT1 signalling, respectively. IL33 rapidly induced the phosphorylation of MAPKs and IkappaBalpha, and enhanced the expression of inflammatory mediators (IL6, IL8, IP-10, Gro-alpha, Gro-beta and MCP-1) in IL4- or IFNgamma-pretreated cells. IL33 stimulated the proliferation and migration of pancreatic myofibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
IL33 and its receptor complex (ST2L and IL1RAcP) constitute a novel signalling system which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis.
Nishida
Atsushi
A
Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tukinowa, Otsu 520-2192, Japan.
Andoh
Akira
A
Imaeda
Hirotsugu
H
Inatomi
Osamu
O
Shiomi
Hisanori
H
Fujiyama
Yoshihide
Y
D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D053577:Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology
D016207:Cytokines; C507765:IL1RAP protein, human; C079241:IL1RL1 protein, human; C506536:IL33 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053577:Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases