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Inflammatory cytokine production by immunological and foreign body multinucleated giant cells
Author(s) -
HernandezPando R.,
Bornstein Q. L.,
Aguilar Leon D.,
Orozco E. H.,
Madrigal V. K.,
Martinez Cordero E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00025.x
Subject(s) - giant cell , immune system , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cytokine , inflammation , antigen , pathology , multinucleate , immunology , biology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine
Summary Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) are a common feature of granulomas. The mechanism of their formation has been studied extensively, but their function has not been completely characterized. A new method for the in vivo production of MGC was developed involving subcutaneous injection of microscopic nitrocellulose particles with adsorbed mycobacterial antigens into the footpads of sensitized BALB/c mice (immune [I]‐MGC), or by nitrocellulose administration to non‐sensitized mice (foreign body [FB]‐MGC). The development of granulomas with a highly enriched MGC population was observed 2 weeks after the nitrocellulose injection. MGC were larger with a greater number of nuclei in I‐MGC than in FB‐MGC. From days 7–28 after nitrocellulose administration, the production of interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) was demonstrated in both MGC types by in situ reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and immunohistochemistry. After 2 months, the MGC had ceased production of IL‐1α and TNF‐α, but the expression of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) was very high, occurring together with extensive fibrosis. These results suggest that MGC are an active source of inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to the initiation, maintenance and down‐regulation of granulomatous inflammation induced by immunological and inert substances.