Studies on the ability of hemodialysis membranes to induce, bind, and clear human interleukin-1.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a polypeptide cytokine predominantly produced by monocytes in response to injury or infection. Effects of IL-1 such as fever, acute phase protein synthesis, hypotension, and loss of body mass are complications of hemodialysis. Endotoxin-contaminated dialysate fluid, sodium acetate as a dialysate buffer, and activated complement can induce IL-1 during hemodialysis. In the present study, we investigated the intrinsic property of hemodialysis membranes to stimulate human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) to produce IL-1. Incubation of MNC on sheets of two commonly used hemodialysis membranes, regenerated cellulose (RC) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) resulted in significant induction of IL-1 in the absence of endotoxin or complement. Production of intracellular and extracellular IL-1 was greater in MNC exposed to PAN compared with RC (p less than 0.01). Similar results were obtained when MNC were exposed to strips of hemodialysis membranes in rotating tubes. However, compared with RC, PAN binds significant amounts of human IL-1. In a model of in vitro hemodialysis, radiolabeled recombinant human IL-1 was added to the blood compartment of a PAN and a RC dialyzer. Forty percent of radiolabeled IL-1 bound to the PAN dialyzer membrane compared with 10% to the membrane of a RC dialyzer. In addition, 22% of radiolabeled IL-1 was found in the dialysate compartment of a PAN dialyzer after 1 hour whereas 1% was found in the dialysate side of a RC dialyzer; these results were confirmed by measuring bioactivity of IL-1. These studies demonstrate the intrinsic property of hemodialysis membranes to stimulate human IL-1 production; in addition they establish that dialysis membranes differ in their ability to bind and clear IL-1.