NORMAL HUMAN EPIDERMAL KERATINOCYTE-DERIVED NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTACTIC FACTOR

Human epidermal keratinocytes constitutively produce a variety of cytokines, including neutrophil chemotactic peptide named epidermal cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor, which has been later confirmed to be interleukin 1 (IL-1). Because recombinant IL-1 lacks chemotactic activity, in the present study, we examined the exact nature of the neutrophil chemotactic peptide in the culture supernatant of normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Normal human epidermal keratinocytes produced a neutrophil chemotactic factor, which was also chemotactic for T lymphocytes. Molecular sieve chromatography revealed an approximate molecular size of 11,000 daltons. The activity was retained after heating at 100-degrees-C for 10 min, and at a pH between 4 and 11, but was partially inactivated at pH 3, or by trypsin treatment. The chemotactic activity was not inhibited by the treatment with anti-IL-1 antibody. Its production by keratinocytes was stimulated by IL-1 and lipopolysaccharide but not by UV irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or by interferon-gamma. The neutrophil chemotactic activity in vivo was confirmed by the intradermal injection of the factor into guinea pigs. Blocking study with monoclonal antibodies against NAP-1/IL-8 confirmed that the neutrophil chemotactic factor is IL-8.