AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 256, Issue 2 C336-C340, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society
Immune mediators increase adherence of T-lymphocytes to human lung fibroblasts
F. Hampson, M. Monick, M. W. Peterson and G. W. Hunninghake
Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration, Iowa City, Iowa.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether immunological
mediators that are known to be released in the lungs of patients with
active sarcoidosis might increase the adherence of human T-lymphocytes to
human lung fibroblasts. The studies demonstrate that interleukin 1 (IL-1),
tumor necrosis factor (TNF), gamma-interferon (IFN), and interleukin 2
(IL-2) increase the adherence of T-lymphocytes to fibroblasts in a dose-
and time-dependent manner. An effect of IL-1, TNF, and IFN was observed at
concentrations less than 1 ng/ml; an effect of IL-2 was not observed unless
greater than or equal to 60 ng/ml of the mediator was used. The effect of
the mediators was primarily on the fibroblasts; however, a significant
increase in adherence was also observed when the T-lymphocytes were
preincubated with the mediators. These observations suggest that there may
be an intimate relationship between the immune response and the fibrotic
response in the lungs of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis or in other
disorders where tissue fibrosis is mediated by immunological processes.
