Modulation of transforming growth factor-beta secretion from malignant glioma cells by interleukin-1 beta

Malignant glioma cells secrete transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) which has potent immunosuppressive properties. We investigated the effect of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on TGF-beta secretion from malignant glioma cells in vitro. T98G glioblastoma cells were treated with various doses of IL-1 beta and the TGF-beta activity in the supernatant was determined using a specific bioassay. Six other human malignant glioma cell lines were also treated with 1000 U/ml of IL-1 beta, and the TGF-beta activity in the supernatants was determined. The effect of IL-1 beta on the growth of tumor cells was also assessed by a bioassay using crystal violet which reflects the actual cell number in the plate wells. IL-1 beta treatment resulted in inhibition of TGF-beta secretion in two malignant glioma cell lines. TGF-beta secretion from T98G cells was suppressed by IL-1 beta in a dose-related manner. However, IL-1 beta treatment resulted in an obvious increase (> 20%) of TGF-beta secretion in two tumor lines, and a slight increase (< 20%) in three tumor lines. IL-1 beta did not affect the growth of four malignant glioma cell lines, and only slightly affected the growth of the other three cell lines. IL-1 beta modulates TGF-beta secretion from malignant glioma cells, but not in a consistent way.