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) produc tivity 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). El evated levels of serum triglyceride and cholesterol were found to be a ssociated with growth of the solid hepatoma. The ability of macrophage s 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, hepa toma-free (normal) and -bearing rats were maintained on the 20C or a 2 0% 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 a nd IL-1 production by macrophages from hepatoma-bearing rats was signi ficantly 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 d ietary proteins in the hepatoma-bearing state.