Thyroid follicular cells produce interleukin-8.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine known to be produced by several cell types. To elucidate whether endocrine cells can also make IL-8, we have tested supernatants from eleven thyroid follicular cell primary cultures. IL-8 was readily detected under basal conditions (range 3.4-32.1 ng/ml from 1 x 10(5) cells in 3 days) and was increased 4-20 fold by stimulation with IL-1. TSH and tumor necrosis factor had an inconsistent effect, while gamma-interferon reduced basal and IL-1-stimulated IL-8 production. Since IL-8 can act as a chemoattractant for lymphocytes, these observations may explain in part the accumulation of lymphocytes within the gland in autoimmune thyroiditis.