Effect of cytokines and lipid mediators on the synthesis of interleukin 1 beta by human bone marrow stromal cells.

This study investigates the production of interleukin (IL-)1beta by cultured human bone marrow stromal cells. RT-PCR experiments indicate that two-thirds of cultures constitutively express IL-1beta mRNA transcripts. Their cell-associated IL-1beta levels are elevated after stimulation with tumour necrosis factor (TNF-)alpha but not with cytokines such as IL-1alpha, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, SCF, G-CSF, M-CSF and TGF-beta or lipid mediators such as PGE2, LTB4, LXA4, LXB4, 12-HETE, 15-HETE and PAF. Addition of IL-4, but not IL-10 or TGF-beta, reduces the TNF-alpha-induced cell-associated IL-1beta. IL-1beta is never detected in bone marrow stromal cell supernatants whatever the stimulant added. In conclusion the pro-inflammatory molecule TNF-alpha stimulates bone marrow stromal cell-associated IL-1beta levels while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 reduces the TNF-alpha-induced effect. These results strengthen the key regulatory role of IL-4 on the production of haematopoietic cytokines by human bone marrow stromal cells.