Combined effect of hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress and IL-1 alpha on IL-8 production in CaCo-2 cells (a human colon carcinoma cell line) and normal intestinal epithelial cells.

Oxidative stress, IL-1alpha, and IL-8 are known to contribute to mucosal inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. We examined the IL-8 response after brief exposure to hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress in CaCo-2 cells (a human colon carcinoma cell line) and in human intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, we examined whether exposure to oxidative stress, followed by IL-1alpha, could modulate IL-8 production. A transient up-regulation of IL-8 mRNA expression was observed after hydrogen peroxide treatment. Hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress was also observed to promote IL-8 secretion. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide, followed by IL-1alpha, enhanced IL-8 production over that achieved with IL-1alpha alone. Thus, oxidative stress and IL-1alpha were observed to cooperatively enhance IL-8 production.