Cell-cell contact of human T cells with fibroblasts changes lymphocytic mRNA expression: increased mRNA expression of interleukin-17 and interleukin-17 receptor

Using random arbitrarily primed-reverse transcribed-PCR and sequence analys is, we investigated changes in lymphocytic molecules after cell-cell contac t with fibroblasts. An mRNA species which was upregulated in Jurkat T cells by cell-cell contact with MRHF cells (a human foreskin fibroblast line) wa s identified as coding for the human interleukin-17 receptor. This finding was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR for the HUT78 and Jurkat T cell lines, for peripheral blood lymphocytes, and for tonsillar T cells. Furthermore, the interleukin-17 mRNA, coding for a proinflammatory cytokine, was also up regulated in peripheral blood lymphocytes and tonsillar T cells after cell- cell contact with fibroblasts. Supernatants obtained from cell-cell contact -stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes enhance the production of interleu kin-6 and interleukin-8 by fibroblast-like synoviocytes and this effect cou ld be blocked by interleukin-17 antibodies. Changes in the mRNA levels of J urkat T cells induced by cell-cell contact with adherent cells were also fo und for M-type pyruvate kinase, for tropomyosin TM30 and for the p54nrb gen e product.