THE CD14 MOLECULE PARTICIPATES IN REGULATION OF IL-8 AND IL-6 RELEASEBY BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

The soluble form of the leukocyte membrane antigen CD14 is known to in crease the sensitivity of endothelial and epithelial cell lines to bac terial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This molecule also directly induces c ytokine production in monocytes. Here, the effect of sCD14 and LPS on the release of IL-6 and IL-8 by human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC s) was studied. Soluble CD14 induced cytokine production both in the p resence and absence of LPS. In addition, neither sCD14 nor anti-CD14 m onoclonal antibody which blocks the interaction of LPS with CD14 had a ny effect on the binding of LPS to HBECs. These data suggest that sCD1 4 may induce the release of IL-6 and IL-8 from HBECs. However, the bin ding of LPS to bronchial epithelium appears to be mediated by CD14-ind pendent mechanisms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .