CYTOKINE-INDUCED MODULATION OF MHC CLASS-I AND CLASS-II MOLECULES ON HUMAN CERVICAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

Our purpose was to determine the expression of the major histocompatib ility complex (MHC) class I and class II gene products as well as the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 on cervical epithelial cells, an d to determine to what extent inflammatory cytokines regulate their ex pression. Immunohistology and flow cytometry techniques were used to i dentify and quantify MHC class I and class II molecules, and the costi mulatory molecules B7.1 and B7.2, on sections and primary epithelial c ell cultures of human endo- and ectocervix. MHC class I but not class II molecules were constitutively expressed on tissue sections and prim ary epithelial cell cultures derived from endo- and ectocervix. Expres sion of MHC class I and class II was upregulated in vitro by IFN-gamma in a time and dose dependent fashion. The induction of class II expre ssion was more pronounced on ectocervical cells than on endocervical c ells. MHC class I but not class II expression was also enhanced by IFN -alpha as well as TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 inhibited the IF N-gamma induced MHC class II expression. Expression of the costimulato ry molecules B7-1 and B7-2 were not detected in tissue sections or on resting or cytokine-treated cervical epithelial cells in vitro. The pr esent results support the concept that endo- and ectocervical epitheli al cells, like their counterparts at other mucosal sites, constitutive ly express MHC class I molecules and can express MHC class II upon cyt okine stimulation, indicating that they are capable of presenting anti gens to T-cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.