Modification of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 productivity in macrophages from hepatoma-bearing rats by dietary proteins

Changes in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) productivity in resident peritoneal macrophages and those in the serum lipid levels were traced for up to 14 days after subcutaneous implantation of hepatoma (AH109A) cells to rats kept on a 20% casein diet (20C). Elevated levels of serum triglyceride and cholesterol were found to be associated with growth of the solid hepatoma. The ability of macrophages to produce TNF and IL-1 rose twice at both the early (days 2-4) and late (day 14) stages. To examine the effects of dietary proteins, hepatoma-free (normal) and -bearing rats were maintained on the 20C or a 20% gluten diet (20G) for 14 days after sham or hepatoma implantation. No significant changes were noticed in the serum lipid levels between the 20C and 20G groups in either hepatoma-free or -bearing rats. TNF and IL-1 production by macrophages from hepatoma-bearing rats was significantly higher in the 20C group than in the 20G group. These results indicate that TNF and IL-1 productivity in macrophages is enhanced by hepatoma implantation and that their productivity may be modified by dietary proteins in the hepatoma-bearing state.