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Interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha are expressed by keratinocytes but not by Langerhans cells

A Oxholm1, M Diamant, P Oxholm

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco.

APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Researchers found that interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are present on the surface of skin keratinocytes, and that IL-6 is biologically active.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cytokines play crucial roles in skin inflammation and immunity.
  • The precise localization and function of cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha in normal human skin require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and localization of key cytokines, specifically IL-6 and TNF-alpha, in normal human skin.
  • To determine if membrane-bound cytokines in the epidermis possess biological activity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized biotin-avidin-peroxidase and immunofluorescence techniques on skin biopsies and epidermal single-cell preparations.
  • Employed antibodies against recombinant cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta).
  • Performed in vitro binding assays and co-cultivation experiments with an IL-6 responsive cell line (B9).

Main Results:

  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected with intercellular/membrane-associated staining in skin.
  • Cytoplasmic staining was observed for IL-6, most prominently.
  • Langerhans cells (CD1-positive) did not express the examined cytokines.
  • In vitro studies confirmed membrane-bound IL-6 and TNF-alpha on keratinocytes.
  • IL-6 demonstrated biological activity in co-culture assays.

Conclusions:

  • Normal human keratinocytes express membrane-bound IL-6 and TNF-alpha.
  • The membrane-bound IL-6 on keratinocytes exhibits biological activity, suggesting a role in skin homeostasis or immune response.

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