Regulation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (m-CSF) production in cultured human synovial fibroblasts

Abstract

Objective. To study the regulation of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) formation in vitro by human synovial fibroblast-like cells. Methods. Human synovial cell explant cultures were established using cells from non-rheumatoid donors. M-CSF antigen was measured by immunoassay, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were determined by Northern blot. Results. The cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factora (TNFα interferon-γ (IFN-γ and IL-4, increased production of M-CSF above constitutive levels. The presence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, potentiated the action of IL-1 on M-CSF synthesis, suggesting that an endogenous cydooxygenase product(s) can down-regulate..