Induction of interleukin-8 synthesis from monocytes by human C5a anaphylatoxin

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is an important mediator of inflammation and has been shown to be a potent chemotactic/cell activator for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). T lymphocytes, and basophils. Cellular sources of IL-8 include monocytes, PMNs, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and keratinocytes when stimulated by factors such as lipopolysaccharide, IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. This report demonstrates that C5a, in addition to being a direct mediator of inflammation, can induce both IL-8 synthesis and high levels of release from monocytes. Natural human C5a and a synthetic C-terminal analogue peptide of C5a each induced IL-8 synthesis and release from CD14+ human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Antigenic reactivity based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay gave evidence that IL-8 was present in the culture supernatants of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Proof that supernatant levels of IL-8 attain biologically significant quantities was provided by human PMN chemotaxis assays. The quantity of IL-8 recovered from C5a-activated monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is up to 1,000-fold greater than that released from comparable numbers of PMNs under similar conditions. Therefore, IL-8 released from C5a-activated monocytes may play a significant role in expanding and prolonging cellular infiltration and activation at sites of infection, inflammation, or tissue injury. This observation suggests an important humoral amplification loop for inflammatory events involving both complement activation and cytokine release.