Immunoregulatory cytokines modify Escherichia coli induced uroepithelial cell IL-6 and IL-8 responses

This study analysed the effects of immunoregulatory cytokines on uroepithelial cell cytokine responses. The A-498 human kidney cell line was treated with the interleukins IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, interferon gamma (IFN-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta 1). Secreted IL-6 and IL-8 were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and bioassay; IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA species were quantitated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma, and TGF-beta 1, but not IL-2, IL-5, IL-10 or IL-12, stimulated IL-6 secretion. At high concentrations, IL-4 and IL-13 stimulated low levels of IL-8 secretion. Immunoregulatory cytokines were analysed for their ability to modify the A-498 cells' IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in response to Escherichia coli. IL-5, IL-12, IL-13 and TFGF-beta 1 additively enhanced the bacterially induced IL-6 secretion, but they did not affect IL-8 secretion. The strongest affects on uroepithelial cell IL-6 and IL-8 responses in the presence of bacteria were observed in conjunction with IL-4 and IFN-alpha. IL-4 induced IL-6 production in synergy with E. coli. IFN-alpha both enhanced and inhibited IL-6 and IL-8 responses in combination with E. coli, depending on the order of stimulant addition. The results demonstrate that immunoregulatory cytokines can modify the uroepithelial cell responses to bacteria in vitro. In this way, T cells may regulate the cytokine responses of uroepithelial and possibly other mucosal epithelial cells in vivo. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited