Stimulatory effect of interleukin-1 beta on the interferon-gamma-dependent HLA-DR production.

Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes is induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in antigen-presenting cells. When human leukaemia THP-1 and PL-21 cells were pretreated with phorbol ester, IFN-gamma-dependent induction of MHC class II gene was markedly enhanced. To elucidate the mechanism of the phenomenon, we examined the effect of cytokines which were secreted from THP-1 cells by the treatment of phorbol ester. Among those cytokines, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) had a positive effect on IFN-gamma-dependent induction of MHC class II genes. In order to rule out the possibility that different clones of THP-1 cells respond independently to IFN-gamma or phorbol ester, we showed that all independent single clones expressed MHC class II and produced IL-1 beta by IFN-gamma or phorbol ester, respectively.