Aw. Stadnyk et al., IL-1-ALPHA IS CONSTITUTIVELY EXPRESSED IN THE RAT INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL-CELL LINE IEC-6, Experimental cell research, 220(2), 1995, pp. 298-303
The rat small intestinal epithelial cell line, IEC-6, was examined for
the presence of IL-1 mRNAs using the reverse transcription/polymerase
chain reaction method. IL-1 alpha but not IL-1 beta transcripts were
detected in plastic adherent cells. The levels of IL-1 alpha transcrip
ts were similar in cells cultured at different densities. IL-1 activit
y was not detected, by bioassay, in the culture supernatant of the cel
ls, nor was it membrane associated. IL-1 activity was detected in cell
lysates, although its measurement was made difficult by the presence
of an inhibitor of the bioassay, Intracellular IL-1 alpha was detectab
le using Western blots, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA was als
o detectable in plastic adherent cells. Treatment with TGF-beta(1), IL
-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, or combinations of any two of these cytokine
s failed to induce the secretion of the IL-1 alpha or to significantly
change the levels of mRNA. The IEC-6 cell line is similar to other ep
ithelial cells in having intracellular pools of IL-1 alpha. (C) 1995 A
cademic Press, Inc.