IONIZING-RADIATION ENHANCES IL-6 AND IL-8 PRODUCTION BY HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Irradiation exposure is known to induce an inflammatory reaction, Endo thelial cells play a crucial role both in the inflammatory process and in radiation damage. Therefore, supernatants and cell lysates of Co-6 0-irradiated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) have been assessed for the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. After gamma i rradiation, interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis fac tor (TNF)-alpha remained undetectable in both cell supernatants and ce ll lysates, However, a dose-dependent increase in the production of IL -6 and IL-8 has been demonstrated up to 6 days after exposure, These d ata indicate that the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 may be involved in the inflammatory response of vascular endothelium induced by exposure to ionizing radiation.