Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 activate phospholipase in rat chondrocytes

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) are both cytokines of macrophage origin with similar activity on several cell types. We investigated whether TNF can, analogously to IL-1, stimulate phospholipase activity of chondrocytes. Addition of each of these cytokines to cells, isolated from the xiphisternum of adult rats, resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in phospholipase activity in both secreted and membrane-associated form. Moreover, TNF and IL-1 both induce a transformation of chondrocyte morphology. In conclusion, TNF stimulates chondrocyte phospholipase activity and extends the long list of actions shared by IL-1 and TNF in a diversity of cellular systems.