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Thyroid follicular cells produce interleukin-8
A P Weetman1, G L Bennett, W L Wong
1Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield Clinical Sciences Centre, Northern General Hospital, U.K.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Thyroid follicular cells produce the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8). Production increased with IL-1 stimulation, suggesting a role in autoimmune thyroiditis by attracting lymphocytes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a key proinflammatory cytokine.
- IL-8 is typically produced by various immune and non-immune cell types.
- The role of endocrine cells, specifically thyroid follicular cells, in IL-8 production is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether thyroid follicular cells can produce Interleukin-8 (IL-8).
- To determine the regulation of IL-8 production by thyroid follicular cells in response to specific stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Primary cultures of eleven human thyroid follicular cell lines were established.
- Culture supernatants were analyzed for IL-8 levels under basal and stimulated conditions.
- Stimuli included Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), tumor necrosis factor, and gamma-interferon.
Main Results:
- Thyroid follicular cells produced significant basal levels of IL-8.
- IL-8 production was markedly increased (4-20 fold) upon stimulation with IL-1.
- TSH and tumor necrosis factor had variable effects, while gamma-interferon suppressed IL-8 production.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid follicular cells are a source of IL-8.
- IL-8 production by these cells is inducible, particularly by IL-1.
- These findings suggest a potential mechanism linking thyroid follicular cells to lymphocyte infiltration in autoimmune thyroiditis.