RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Interleukin (IL)-lbeta is one of proinflammatory cytokines with an active role in acute nd chronic inflammation of airway mucosa. The present study was undertaken to find out the changes in the amount of released mucin and lysozyme by immunoblot assay which are the main constituents of airway secretion, to see if there were any changes in the mRNA expression of mucin and lysozyme genes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and also to observe the morphologic changes of IL-1beta treated the normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NHNE cells were cultured using air-liquid interface technique and on the plating day 12, IL-lbeta 10 ng/ml was added and the cells were cultured for 24 hours. Afterwards the media and cells in the insert were harvested. RESULTS:The secretion of mucin and lysozyme didn't change significantly after the stimulation with IL-1beta and there was no significant difference between the control group and IL-1beta treated group in mRNA expression of MUC2, 5AC, 5B and lysozyme genes whereas MUC8 mRNA was significantly increased by IL-1beta stimulation. Electron microscopic findings revealed no significant differences between these two groups. CONCLUSION:The stimulation with IL-1beta alone in the differentiation stage couldn't induce changes in the secretory function and morphology of NHNE cells, but could enhance the expression of MUC8 mRNA. Therefore, the further study on the pathologic changes of NHNE cells by the combined actions of various inflammatory mediators should be followed.