Induction of HLA-DR Antigen Expression on Human Colonic Epithelium by Tumor Necrosis Factor-or and Interferon-γ

Abstract

Ishii N, Chiba M, Iizuka M, Horie Y, Masamune O. Induction of HLA-DR antigen expression on human colonic epithelium by tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:903-907.

Background: We investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α-) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) on HLA-DR expression on human normal colonic epithelium, using an organ culture technique. Methods: Biopsy specimens from normal colonic mucosa were cultured for 24 h with various concentrations of TNF-α and/or IFN-γ. Epithelial HLA-DR antigens were identified by an indirect immunoperoxidase staining method. Results: No expression of epithelial HLA-DR antigens was observed in specimens cultured with medium alone. Concentrations of 10³U/ml or higher of TNF-α- and 10² U/ml or higher of IFN-γ induced expression of HLA-DR antigens in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of HLA-DR was increased in specimens cultured with both TNF-α and IFN-γ compared with those cultured with either cytokine alone. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both TNF-α and IFN-γ play important roles in regulating the expression of HLA-DR on colonic epithelium in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Key Words:

• Colonic epithelium
• cytokine
• HLA-DR antigen
• interferon-γ
• tumor necrosis factor-α