Purpose: Recent studies have shown that the levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 are associated with the severity of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether IL-1beta regulates the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in human corneal epithelial cells during Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization.
Methods: Confluent immortalized human corneal epithelial cells were challenged with P. aeruginosa 6294 in the presence of anti-human IL-1beta antibody or matched control antibody. The cells were also challenged with recombinant IL-1beta protein without bacterial colonization. Expression of IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA and protein was detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. IL-1beta localization was determined by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Human corneal epithelial cells expressed low levels of IL-1beta and high levels of IL-6 and IL-8 during P. aeruginosa colonization. Addition of IL-1beta Ab resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in IL-8 protein expression at 4 h, 8 h and 12 h. Addition of IL-1beta Ab reduced IL-6 protein expression at 8 h and increased IL-6 protein expression at 12 h. Addition of recombinant IL-1beta protein alone strongly stimulated the expression of IL-8 and IL-6. Immunohistochemical staining showed that IL-1beta protein was present both intracellularly and extracellularly in P. aeruginosa colonized cells.
Conclusions: IL-1beta is able to modulate expression of both IL-6 and IL-8 at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in human corneal epithelial cells.