TUMOR-DERIVED, ENDOCRINE, EXOGENOUS AND THERAPEUTIC FACTORS DIFFERENTIALLY MODULATE CYTOKINE SECRETION IN WHOLE-BLOOD CELL-CULTURE

Following our previous results which showed that TGF-beta 1 suppressed the secretion of certain cytokines, we investigated the effects of di fferent endogenous and exogenous factors on cytokine secretion in whol e blood cell culture by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EL ISA) for measurement of cytokine concentrations. Several molecules inc luding dexamethasone, noradrenaline (NA) and ethanol differentially in hibited mitogen-induced cytokine secretion. Dexamethasone and noradren aline suppressed secretion of IL-2, IFN alpha, IFN gamma, TNF alpha, I L-1 alpha and IL-1 beta. beta-Endorphin and Leu-EnkephaLin had no sign ificant influence on cytokine secretion. Suppression of cytokine secre tion by TGF-beta 1 was further intensified significantly and dose depe ndently by addition of noradrenaline. GM-CSF stimulated the secretion of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF gamma, but had no influence on the se cretion of IL-2, IFN alpha and IFN gamma. G-CSF, IL-3 and SCF did not significantly influence secretion of all cytokines tested. Thus, endog enous and exogenous factors differentially influence cytokine secretio n by immunocompetent cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.