Interleukin-1 release by rat synovial cells is dependent on sequential treatment with gamma-interferon and...

To determine the potential regulatory mechanisms involved in synovial cell interleukin-1 (IL-1) release, the ability of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) to influence IL-1 release was assessed. Rat synovial cells cultured in the presence of a variety of stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), failed to release IL-1. However, pretreatment of synovial cells with gamma-IFN, followed by LPS stimulation, resulted in increased levels of intracellular IL-1 as well as release of IL-1 from the cell. The level of IL-1 release was dependent on the concentration of both gamma-IFN and LPS, and on length of exposure to the gamma-IFN. The kinetic and dose requirements for gamma-IFN-dependent IL-1 release were similar to those for Ia antigen expression, but LPS was necessary for IL-1 messenger RNA induction, intracellular IL-1 accumulation, and IL-1 release. In addition, sequential treatment, i.e., gamma-IFN followed by LPS, was essential for IL-1 induction. Substitution of phorbol ester or calcium ionophore for gamma-IFN did not result in similar IL-1 release. In addition, induction of IL-1 messenger RNA by another stimulus was not sufficient to result in IL-1 release following LPS treatment. These results suggest that release of IL-1 by rat synovial cells requires the production of a regulatory signal, which is inducible by gamma-IFN.