Selective alteration of bovine neutrophil responses by recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta

The effects of recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta (rBIL-1 beta) upon in vitro bovine neutrophil functions were determined. Exposure of peripheral blood neutrophils to various concentrations of rBIL-1 beta induced dose dependent suppression of the phagocyte's ability to migrate under agarose. Preincubation of neutrophils with rBIL-1 beta did not influence their ability to ingest radiolabelled Staphylococcus aureus nor did it induce hydrogen peroxide production or elastase release. However, pretreatment of phagocytes with rBIL-1 beta did result in a dose-dependent enhancement of opsonized zymosan-induced H2O2 production. In contrast, rBIL-1 beta had no effect upon the ability of opsonized zymosan-stimulated neutrophils to release elastase from primary granules. Pretreatment of neutrophils with rBIL-1 beta for as little as 15 min was sufficient to induce suppression of migration and enhancement of opsonized zymosan-induced H2O2 production. These results suggest rBIL-1 beta is capable of directly modulating selected neutrophil activities. In addition, rBIL-1 beta appears to augment the phagocyte's oxidative metabolic responses to subsequent stimulation by microbial antigens.