An assessment of interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta production in patients with bladder cancer

The activities of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were investigated in whole-blood cultures from 30 patients with bladder cancer and 16 healthy subjects. Heparinized blood was cultured in the absence and presence of various concentrations of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The culture supernatants were obtained and the activities of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). In the absence of LPS stimulation, there was no significant spontaneous elaboration of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in patients with bladder cancer compared with control subjects. Under the stimulation of various concentrations of LPS, patients with bladder cancer and controls subjects produced IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in a dose-dependent manner, and IL-1 beta was found predominantly in the supernatant. Lower IL-1 alpha and higher IL-1 beta activities were found in patients with bladder cancer, but statistical significance was not achieved when compared with control subjects. This study suggested that patients with bladder cancer have no spontaneous elaboration of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta and no significant impaired ability in LPS-stimulated IL-1 alpha and IL1 beta production.