Five cell lines were established from four undifferentiated carcinomas
and one squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. The levels of several
kinds of cytokines were measured in the conditioned media of these ce
ll lines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Interleukin-6 (
IL-6) was produced by four of the five cell lines, interleukin-1alpha
(IL-1alpha) by three cell lines, and granulocyte-colony stimulating fa
ctor (G-CSF) by two cell lines. The mRNA of IL-1alpha or IL-6 was dete
cted by Northern blot analysis in all the cell lines which secreted th
ese cytokines into culture medium. These results suggest that undiffer
entiated carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid frequent
ly produce cytokines. Further studies are needed to clarify the possib
le clinical effects of these cytokines in patients with thyroid carcin
oma. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.