Role of cell-surface nucleolin in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of cell-surface nucleolin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in human THP-1 monocytes.@*METHODS@#Immuno-fluorescence assay and Western blot were used to identify the expression of nucleolin on the surface of THP-1 monocytes. Inactivation of nucleolin was induced by anti-nucleolin monoclonal antibody blockage, and the expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were observed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA)respectively in LPS-mediated human THP-1 monocyte inflammatory model.@*RESULTS@#Immuno-fluorescence showed that nucleolin was localized on the cell surface of THP-1 monocytes as indicated by dotted red fluorescence. Western blot assay indicated that nucleolin existed in the cell membrane fractions. RT-PCR assay showed that the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA significantly increased at 2 h and 3 h after the treatment with 1000 microg/L LPS. After 1 h pretreatment with anti-nucleolin antibody, the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA decreased compared with an anti-nucleolin antibody untreated group and an irrelevant IgG+LPS group (P<0.05). ELISA assay showed that the pretreatment with anti-nucleolin antibody inhibited significantly the secretion of LPS-induced levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta after 4, 12 and 24 h treatment with 1000 microg/L LPS.@*CONCLUSION@#Nucleolin expresses on the cell surface of THP-1 monocytes and involves in the LPS-mediated expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.