Interleukin 1 and gliomas: immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical examinations

Interleukin 1 is a monokine produced by macrophage and has an ability to activate thymocytes. In addition to the immunological regulatory effect, interleukin 1 has attracted a great deal of investigators as a new peptide hormone that was secreted by many cells and has a various physiological activities. In central nervous systems, interleukin 1 promotes the glial cells proliferations on the injured brain and the fetal brain. The cell sources of interleukin 1 in central nervous systems are considered to the microglial cells. On gliomas, Lachmann and Dinarello reported growth promoting effect of IL-1 on U-373 MG human glioblastoma cell. The authors investigated the roles and effects of IL-1 on the growth of gliomas using recombinant human IL-1 beta and anti-HuIL-1 beta monoclonal antibody. On Immunohistochemistry, paraffin sections of 10 cases of gliomas were stained with immunoperoxidase method using anti-human IL-1 beta and anti-GFAP mouse monoclonal antibody. All astrocytomas examined and 2 of 4 glioblastomas were stained by anti-IL-1 beta. The origin of IL-1 that was stained by immunoperoxidase staining is unknown. The authors think it that IL-1 existed in glioma cells were secreted by microglial cells or that the glioma cells themselves secreted IL-1. In either case, IL-1 must be related to the growth of glioma in situ. On immunocytochemistry, U-373 MG human glioblastoma cells purchased from ATCC were incubated on cover-slip with 0 and 10 U/ml of rHuIL-1 beta for 3 or 7 days. The cells were stained with immunoperoxidase method using anti-GFAP monoclonal antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)