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Synthesis of interleukin-1 alpha and beta by normal human melanocytes
V B Swope1, D N Sauder, R C McKenzie
1Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0592.
Insights
Human melanocytes produce interleukin-1 alpha and beta. These cytokines may regulate epidermal cells, impacting melanocyte tyrosinase activity and proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human melanocytes and melanoma cells produce cytokines.
- Interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 inhibit melanocyte proliferation and tyrosinase activity.
- Interleukin-1 beta inhibits neonatal melanocyte tyrosinase activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synthesis of interleukin-1 alpha and beta by neonatal and adult human melanocytes.
- To determine the potential autocrine and paracrine roles of these cytokines in the epidermis.
Main Methods:
- Immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-1 alpha and beta.
- Flow-cytometric analysis.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm cytokine synthesis.
Main Results:
- Neonatal and adult melanocytes stain positively for both interleukin-1 alpha and beta.
- Flow cytometry showed a higher percentage of melanocytes positive for interleukin-1 alpha compared to interleukin-1 beta.
- PCR confirmed the synthesis of both cytokines by human melanocytes.
Conclusions:
- Human melanocytes synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta.
- These cytokines likely act as autocrine and/or paracrine regulators within the epidermis.
- Further research into these cytokine roles could inform dermatological and immunological studies.
Abstract:
Normal human melanocytes and melanoma cells have been reported to produce several cytokines. Previously we demonstrated that neonatal human melanocyte proliferation and tyrosinase activity are inhibited by interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. We have now also shown that interleukin-1 beta induces an inhibiting effect on neonatal melanocyte tyrosinase activity with little effect on melanocyte proliferation. We investigated the ability of neonatal and adult human melanocytes to synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta. By immunocytochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-1 alpha and beta, we observed that neonatal and adult melanocytes stain positively for both cytokines. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed that the percentage of melanocytes positive for interleukin-1 alpha was always greater than that for interleukin-1 beta. The ability of neonatal and adult melanocytes to synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta was further confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction. These results clearly indicate that human melanocytes synthesize interleukin-1 alpha and beta, and that these cytokines may function as autocrine and/or paracrine regulators of cells in the epidermis.