INDUCTION OF FC-RECEPTORS ON MURINE MACROPHAGES AND LEUKEMIC-CELLS BY INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA

Recombinant human interleukin-1beta (rhIL-1beta) is shown to be a strong inducer of Fc receptors (FcR) on murine macrophages and not on granulocytes. Data is provided indicating that rhIL-1beta does induce specific but not nonspecific phagocytosis. Macrophages are shown to autoinduce their FcR expression as a function of time in culture. This induction is increased by the use of exogenous rhIL-1beta and inhibited by anti-rhIL-1beta antibody, pointing to an autocrine regulation of FcR expression on macrophages. On the other hand the myelomonocytic cell line WEHI3BD- and the macrophage like cell line WR19M.1 are also shown to be inducible for the expression of FcR by this molecule. Data is also provided showing that recombinant murine Interferon gamma (rmIFNgamma) induces FcR on both macrophages and granulocytes. Whereas polyclonal antibodies inhibit FcR induction by IL-1 on macrophages, it does not inhibit FcR induction by IFNgamma on these cells. This points to a different mechanism of induction of FcR by EFN and IL-1. Finally, the possible application of rhIL-1beta in vivo to help the organism right infections is discussed.