Effect of colon carcinoma cell supernatants on cytokine production and phagocytic capacity

The ability of colon carcinoma cells to produce IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alp ha, and the effect of tumor cell supernatants (sups) on the capacity of per ipheral blood mononuclear cells to produce these three cytokines was examin ed. In addition, the effect of colon carcinoma cell sups on the engulfing c apacity of phagocytic cells was detected. The results showed that IL-1 beta , IL-6 and TNF alpha levels were significantly higher in tumor cell sups co mpared with those of autologous colon mucosal cells obtained from healthy t issue. Tumor cell sups caused a decrease in both phagocytic capacity, and t he number of latex particles engulfed by each individual cell. (C) 2000 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.