1 research outputs found
Effects of Cytokines and Immunosuppressants on the Production of Serum Amyloid A Protein and C-reactive Protein in HepG2 Cells
C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) are acute- phase proteins produced by the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines. The concentrations of these proteins in serum vary in parallel in most pathological conditions, but sometimes vary independently. CRP and SAA were determined in HepG2 cell culture medium supplemented with five immunosuppressants (corticosteroid, gusperimus hydrochloride, cyclosporin A, mizoribine and tacrolimus hydrate), with or without interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We also examined the effects of the immunosuppressants on the production of cytokines and changes in CRP and SAA production in HepG2 cells stimulated with the culture fluid from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - treated monocytes. In HepG2 cells, production of CRP and SAA was greatly affected by IL-6 and IL-β, respectively. Prednisolone (PSL) suppressed CRP production, while it enhanced SAA production. The other four immunosuppressants did not affect CRP production, but inhibited SAA production. PSL significantly inhibited cytokine production in monocytes, while the other immunosuppressants enhanced it. In HepG2 cells incubated with the culture fluid from LPS-stimulated monocytes, CRP production was suppressed, while SAA production was enhanced. PSL suppressed CRP production in HepG2 cells by inhibiting IL-6 production in monocytes, whereas PSL increased SAA production through a direct action on the hepatoma cells. In contrast, the other immunosuppressive agents enhanced IL-β production in monocytes. The agents induced SAA production in the HepG2 cells but did not affect CRP production