PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES BY THYROID-CARCINOMA CELL-LINES

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.