HUMAN VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS PRODUCE AN INTRACELLULAR FORM OF INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory monocyte- and macrophage-der ived cytokine that has potent vasorelaxant effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). VSMC themselves also express both IL-1 alpha- and beta-genes, suggesting that IL-1 may be an autocrine regulator of VSM C function. The present study demonstrates that human saphenous vein V SMC (HSVSMC) produce IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), a specific inh ibitor of IL-1 action. IL-1Ra was produced constitutively in most expe riments, and its production was upregulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13 -acetate and by IL-1 beta. IL-1Ra produced by HSVSMC remained predomin ately cell associated and was not detectable extracellularly. Furtherm ore, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and cDNA sequencing indicated that HSVSMC express the alternatively spliced fo rm of IL-1Ra which lacks the signal peptide present in secreted IL-1Ra . HSVSMC also produced IL-1 alpha and the precursor form but not the m ature form of IL-1 beta. These results suggest that HSVSMC lack active IL-1 beta-converting enzyme. Like IL-1Ra, IL-1 beta precursor and IL- 1 alpha remained cell associated, predominately in the cytosolic fract ion. IL-1 beta induced production of both IL-1Ra and IL-1 alpha at eac h time point and concentration tested. In contrast, platelet-derived g rowth factor and transforming growth factor-beta augmented production of IL-1Ra, but not that of IL-1 alpha. These results are suggestive of an autocrine role for cell-associated IL-1Ra, as well as for IL-1 alp ha and IL-1 beta, in the regulation of VSMC function.