Effects of isoprothiolane on cell growth of cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells

This study was performed to investigate the effects of isoprothiolane on ce ll growth and the production of interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 by bovine mamma ry epithelial cells in vitro. Isoprothiolane increased proliferation of mam mary epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration of 0. 05 to 5 mu M when cultured either with or without serum-supplemented medium . In contrast, isoprothiolane (0.0005-5 mu M) significantly inhibited the p roduction of IL-1 and IL-6 by mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, the cytok ines, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha te nded to inhibit the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells in a dose-dep endent manner. These results indicated that isoprothiolane regulated mammar y epithelial cell growth in vitro possibly by modulating me production of c ytokines.