Production of multiple cytokines by Hodgkin's disease derived cell lines.

The production of cytokines was analysed in Hodgkin's disease (HD) derived cell lines by enzyme linked immunosorbent tests (ELISA) and Northern blot experiments. Our results demonstrate that HD derived cell lines produce a variety of cytokines, such as IL1 alpha, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, TNF alpha, TNF beta and GM-CSF but not IL1 beta, IL2, IL3 and G-CSF. In cell lines with a high expression of CD25 (the light chain of the IL2 receptor), we found soluble IL2 receptors in the supernatants. In addition, receptors for IL6 could be detected in most of the HD derived cell lines. However the growth of HD derived cell lines, which produce IL6 and IL6 receptors could not be inhibited by anti-IL6 antibodies. From our data we conclude, that IL6 and additional cytokines may be involved in the biology of HD.