M. Steffen et al., INCREASED SECRETION OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA, INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA, AND INTERLEUKIN-6 BY ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES FROM PATIENTS WITH SARCOIDOSIS, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 91(4), 1993, pp. 939-949
Background: Alveolar macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis were a
nalyzed for their ability to secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-
alpha), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Resu
lts: Constitutive release of all three monokines in these patients was
concomitantly increased in the active state of disease in comparison
with inactive sarcoidosis or healthy control subjects. Alveolar macrop
hages from patients with inactive sarcoidosis compared with cells from
healthy subjects showed increased spontaneous secretion of TNF-alpha
and IL-6 only, whereas the constitutive release of IL-1-beta was simil
ar as in healthy volunteers. In vitro stimulation of alveolar macropha
ges from healthy control subjects with lipopolysaccharide or pokeweed
mitogen led to a time- and dose-dependent enhanced secretion of TNF-al
pha, IL-1-beta, and IL-6. In a similar manner, with corresponding cell
s from patients with sarcoidosis the secretion of all three cytokines
could be further increased by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or p
okeweed mitogen. Conclusions: The data presented indicate that an incr
eased release of TNF-alpha, IL-1-beta, and IL-6 correlates to disease
activity and may play critical part in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis
.