Extracellular Regulation of Interleukin (IL)-1 β through Lung Epithelial Cells and Defective IL-1 Type II Receptor Expression

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-1 � is produced primarily by activated mononuclear phagocytic cells in the lung airway and functions as a potent proinflammatory cytokine. Release of IL-1 � in the airway microenvironment induces the production of proinflammatory factors from parenchymal airway cells, including IL-8. To study the regulation of lung epithelial cell responsiveness to IL-1�, the human type II–like airway epithelial cell line A549 and primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were assayed for IL-1–specific response