The Effect of Cytokines on the Expression of Mhc Antigens and Icam-1 by Normal and Transformed Synoviocytes

We report the expression on synovial cells of cell surface molecules known to be involved in T cell activation by antigen presenting cells. Normal human synovial fibroblasts and a human synovial cell line transformed with the SV40 large T antigen were used for in vitro stimulation studies with recombinant cytokines. We demonstrate an increase in MHC-A, B, C expression in normal synovial cells in response to recombinant interferon gamma (r gamma IFN), tumour necrosis factor alpha and beta (rTNF alpha and beta) and interleukin-1 (rIL-1 alpha). Intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) expression was increased in parallel with MHC Class I. The combination of r gamma IFN and rTNF alpha was additive in its effect on ICAM-1 expression. Northern blot analysis suggests that ICAM-1 expression in synovial cells is controlled at the level of transcription. In contrast, MHC Class II (HLA-DR) was only significantly induced by r gamma IFN. Other stimuli including interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin 6 (IL-6), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) did not affect the expression of ICAM-1 or MHC Class I and II. Leucocyte function antigen 3 (LFA-3) expression was not affected by any of the stimuli tested. Immunoperoxidase staining of rheumatoid synovial tissue confirmed enhanced in vivo expression of ICAM-1 in rheumatoid arthritis. These changes are discussed in the context of T cell activation in inflammatory arthritis.

Modulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator messenger RNA levels in human synovial fibroblasts by interleukin-1, retinoic acid, and a glucocorticoid

Previous studies have shown that mononuclear cell-conditioned medium (MCCM), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and all-trans-retinoic acid rapidly stimulate, while glucocorticoids lower, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity of human synovial fibroblast-like cells. It is now reported that MCCM, recombinant human IL-1 alpha (rHuIL-1 alpha), rHuIL-1 beta, and all-trans-retinoic acid elevate the u-PA messenger RNA (mRNA) levels to a steady-state value within 2 hours, while dexamethasone (10(-7)M) inhibits this increase. For both situations, when the u-PA activity is either stimulated or reduced, the changes in the u-PA mRNA levels parallel the changes in the u-PA activity, and it is suggested that modulation of gene transcription plays an important role.