Methotrexate induces interleukin-8 production by human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells

Methotrexate (MTX) has been widely used for the treatment of a variety of tumours as well as for inflammatory diseases. MTX-induced pneumonitis has been a serious unpredictable side effect of the treatment and an important clinical problem. However, its mechanism remains largely unclear. Possible causes include allergic, cytotoxic or immunologic reactions to this agent. To elucidate the proinflammatory mechanism of MTX-induced pneumonitis, we evaluated the effect of MTX on the production of IL (interleukin)-8 by human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells in vitro and the role of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) in order to clarify the intracellular signal regulating IL-8 expression. MTX induced IL-8 secretion by human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner within the range of the clinically observed serum concentrations. Although addition of LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and glucose showed no significant enhancing effect, addition of IL-1beta or TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha) with MTX to bronchial epithelial cells showed a significant augmenting effect. SB203580, the specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, inhibited MTX-induced IL-8 production. MTX induced the phosphorylation of Thr(180) and Tyr(182) on p38 MAPK. These results suggest that MTX activates bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells to induce IL-8 production through p38 MAPK, which might play an important role as one of the mechanisms of MTX-induced lung inflammation.