Pleural mesothelial cell response to inflammation: tumor necrosis factor-induced mitogenesis and collagen synthesis

This study examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on pleural mesothelial cell proliferation and collagen synthesis, functions which may be important in the response of the pleura to injury. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha caused a significant increase in proliferation and collagen production by rat pleural mesothelial cells in vitro. Proliferation increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner, resulting in an approximate twofold increase in the uptake of [3H]thymidine relative to control. The uptake of [3H]proline into collagenase-sensitive protein increased in a dose-dependent manner for concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha > or = 1.0 ng/ml. The increase in collagen production were associated with increased steady-state levels of alpha 1(I)-procollagen mRNA. These results suggest that tumor necrosis factor-alpha may have a significant effect on pleural mesothelial cell function in vivo in the setting of inflammation. Increases in pleural mesothelial cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in response to inflammatory mediators, like tumor necrosis factor-alpha, may be important in healing the pleura after injury by a variety of disease processes.