REGULATION OF ELECTROLYTE TRANSPORT WITH IL-1-BETA IN RABBIT DISTAL COLON

INTERLEUKIN-1 beta levels are elevated in intflammatory bowel disease. In this study the mechanism by which interleukin-1 beta affects elect rolyte transport in the rabbit distal colon, was investigated. Interle ukin-1 beta caused a delayed increase in short-circuit current (I-sc) which was attributed to protein synthesis since the effect was inhibit ed by cycloheximide. The interleukin-lp induced increase in I-sc was n ot affected by amiloride treatment but was completely inhibited by bum etanide or in chloride-free buffer and by indomethacin. Prostaglandin E(2) levels increased in tissue treated with interleukin-1 beta, but t his increase was reversed by cycloheximide. These data suggest that in terleukin-1 beta causes its effect via a yet to be identified second m essenger, by increasing chloride secretion through a prostaglandin E(2 ) mediated mechanism.